The National Youth President of Afenifere, Prince Eniola Ojajuni, has pledged to provide critical intelligence to combat kidnapping in Nigeria. He called for urgent action against the increasing wave of kidnappings by herdsmen in Southwest Nigeria.
At a recent press confe
rence, Ojajuni shared his harrowing experience of abduction, describing it as a wake-up call for the government and security agencies.
“On February 17, 2025, I was ambushed near Akunu Akoko, Ondo State, while traveling to Abuja. Armed Fulani herdsmen, disguised in military uniforms, opened fire on my vehicle, hitting it with 19 bullets before abducting me and others,” he recounted.
Ojajuni explained that he spent 12 days in captivity, suffering two gunshot wounds—one narrowly missing his spinal cord—along with severe physical abuse.
“I was beaten 72 times daily and witnessed fellow captives, especially women, being brutally mistreated. The kidnappers were well-organized and heavily armed, wielding over 20 AK-47 rifles,” he stated.
He revealed that the kidnappers have established multiple secret camps throughout the region, utilizing advanced technology to track victims and evade security forces. He provided alarming statistics: 27 camps in Ondo State, 16 in Ekiti, 7 in Osun, and 5 in Ogun.
Ojajuni detailed how the ransom payment had to be moved from Ikare to Ibilo after the kidnappers detected security forces tracking them.
“They thoroughly searched my phone, blocked certain contacts, and monitored social media to remain undetected,” he added.
He urged the Southwest Governors’ Forum to convene a security summit that includes youth representatives to address the crisis effectively.
Ojajuni proposed the creation of a Southwest Youth Security Network in collaboration with the Inspector General of Police and the Nigeria Forest Guards Team to enhance intelligence gathering, improve community surveillance, and ensure swift reporting of suspicious activities.
“I am ready to provide firsthand intelligence on these kidnappers’ operations, gained during my captivity, to help dismantle their networks,” he declared.
He criticized the Ondo State government for its inaction, warning that kidnappers are openly planning to intensify abductions in Ondo and Lagos states.
“They revealed details of their operations along the Sagamu–Ijebu Ode Road weeks before my abduction. If urgent measures are not taken, more innocent lives will be at risk,” he cautioned.
Ojajuni commended the bravery of his fellow captives, including two women who suffered severe abuse and are still receiving medical treatment. “Their suffering must not be in vain—it must be a catalyst for change,” he asserted.
He reiterated the need for immediate government action, which includes deploying additional security personnel to high-risk areas, establishing more security checkpoints along highways and forest borders, enhancing intelligence gathering and surveillance, identifying and prosecuting collaborators aiding these criminals, and conducting security sweeps in forests across Ibilo, Edo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, and Lagos.
While acknowledging the Inspector General of Police’s intelligence-driven rescue operation and the efforts of the Nigeria Forest Guards Team, he insisted that more must be done to protect citizens.
“Nigerians should not have to live under the constant threat of insecurity,” Ojajuni concluded. “We are resilient, but we must demand immediate solutions to end this reign of terror. Our leaders must be held accountable, and we must rise to defend our communities for a safer future.”
SaharaReporters previously reported that Ojajuni was kidnapped on February 17, 2025, with his abductors initially demanding a ransom of N100 million.
A voice recording obtained before his release revealed a tense conversation between his family and the kidnappers, who threatened to kill him within 48 hours if the ransom was not paid.
A source familiar with the situation indicated that N17 million was eventually raised to secure his freedom. Ojajuni’s wife personally delivered the ransom in Akure before his release.
Despite repeated pleas, the Nigerian government provided no financial assistance, and security agencies were reportedly unable to track the kidnappers’ location until the ransom was paid.
“We heard nothing from the government despite repeated promises, and police efforts yielded no results. We had no choice but to raise the funds ourselves,” a source told journalists.
