Kidnappers have turned the agrarian residents of Ondo State into their Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs), collecting millions of naira from the families, relatives and friends of abducted victims.
Investigation by Thefrontrank revealed that over N250 million was collected as ransom by kidnappers from their victims in the state between January and May, 2025.
Kidnapping seems to be a thriving business in Ondo State today due to lack of courage by the administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in managing the security situation in the state unlike the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who tackled the situation frontaly.
Investigation by Thefrontrank revealed that kidnappers do not go to the bank ATMs to make withdrawals; they bark orders to their victims and relatives, whom they see as their cash machines, to bring agreed ransom to them in cash and at times with food items.
Despite the regular “media showbiz” by the Ondo State Security Network Agency, known as Amotekun Corps, the hoodlums, whose modus operandi is to whisk their victims into the forest and thereafter demand ransom, are operating freely across the state.
The temerity at which these criminal elements operate in suburban communities of Akure, the state capital, and beyond, is alarming, yet Amotekun Corps leadership is busy making noise daily about fighting insecurity in the state.
Between January and May this year, kidnappers have allegedly taken over 50 people hostage, many unreported to the security agencies, collecting millions of naira as ransom. They threatened to kill the victims if their relatives did not pay the ransom.
On February 3, gunmen waylaid 10 travellers in a space wagon in the Ipele axis along Owo-Benin highway in Ose Local Government Area of the State and kidnapped them.
According to family sources, each of the 10 travellers paid N3 million ransom, totalling N30 million before they were released by their abductors.
Similarly, three students who were working on a farm near Akure Airport, were on February 9 abducted at Oke Oge in the Oba-Ile area of Akure North Local Government.
According to report, the students, who were on industrial training at the farm, were kidnapped while returning home in the evening. Sources disclosed that their abductors asked for N15 million ransom from their families before they were eventually freed.
The “highest windfall” for the kidnappers in the state was the abduction of the President of Afenifere National Youth Council, Prince Eniola Ojajuni, and eight others in Akoko area between February 16 and February 17 en route Abuja.
According to Ojajuni, each of the victims contacted their family members and friends to pay the ransom demanded.
“The total amount paid for our release was around N100 million,” he disclosed.
For Rofiat Lawal, a corps member, she was abducted on February 25, along Benin-Ore highway on her way to Ibadan, Oyo State, for her primary assignment for the one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.
Recounting her experience after her release, Lawal said that the kidnappers first demanded a ransom of N20 million. She explained that they later reduced it to N5 million, but the family could only raise N1.1 million.
Similarly, gunmen on March 9 kidnapped nine surveyors while on site at Ilu-Abo axis in Akure North Local Council Area.
According to sources, the kidnappers made contacts with some families of the victims and demanded N100 million for their release but was later reduced to N50 million after series of pleas.
As a routine, on March 16, gunmen abducted a businessman, Tope Faaji, his wife and their daughter at the entrance of their house along Ipele road in Owo Local Government.
A family source said: “When the kidnappers called, they initially demanded a N30 million ransom, but they later reduced it to N20 million.”
Sadly, on May 11, Mr Nelson Adepoyigi, the chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ward five, Ifon, Ose Local Government Area was abducted in front of his house. Adepoyigi was killed by his abductors after collecting N5 million from his family.
For the three members of the Deeper Life Bible Church who were abducted on May 26 while returning from Bible Study at Kasemola area, Ogbese, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, their abductors have reportedly demanded a N15 million ransom for their release.
A family source said: “Yes, they have contacted us and we are raising money from well wishes and church members to be able to pay the ransom.”
Thefrontrank gathered that no fewer than six unreported kidnap incidents happened in the state during the period under review with two in Akoko axis, two in Ifon axis, one in Aba-Igbira in Akure North Local Government Area and one in Ofosu in Idanre Local Government Area. Each of the victims reportedly coughed out minimum of N5 million ransom.
Thefrontrank investigation revealed that unlike during the late Akeredolu’s administration, the security personnel lacked the needed equipment and assistance from the present administration in the state for effective performance.
Some residents who spoke to Thefrontrank, described the rising insecurity in the state as “pathetic and sorrowful”. They called on the government to wakeup to its responsibility of protecting lives and property.
The residents advocated for a law that prescribed death penalty for convicted kidnappers, confiscation and demolition of property, and severe penalties for accomplices.
