Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Ibadan and Ogun State, Nigeria — The Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) has confirmed the conclusion of a tense kidnapping ordeal involving five of its members who were abducted while visiting the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) in the Idi‑Ayunre area of Oyo State. The association revealed that an undisclosed ransom was paid to secure the release of the remaining captives, bringing the incident to an end over the weekend.
The crisis began on March 18, 2026, when representatives of CFAN’s Ogun State chapter were at the CRIN nursery site to collect annual cocoa seedlings in preparation for the 2026 farming season. Around midday, a group of unidentified armed men ambushed the delegation while they were within the federal agricultural facility’s nursery area, which borders both Oyo and Ogun states. Five farmers — including association leaders identified as Apostle William Solomon, Rufus Megbowon, Ayebusiwa Toyin, Ayebusiwa Tayo, and Omosoluyi Omoseyimi — were seized during the attack.
Eyewitnesses recounted that as the farmers were leaving the nursery section, gunshots rang out and armed assailants surrounded their vehicles from all sides, forcing them into the bush. One of the survivors, who escaped alongside another victim, described the attack as rapid and well‑executed, with the kidnappers believed to have used unguarded bush paths to coordinate the abductions.
Security agencies responded promptly following distress calls from those on the scene. The Oyo State Police Command confirmed that a joint effort involving the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun Corps), and local vigilante groups was mobilised. The combined forces engaged in an aggressive pursuit of the kidnappers in nearby forested areas, which led to the rescue of two of the victims — Solomon and Megbowon — and the arrest of three suspected kidnappers. Authorities described the action as part of a coordinated effort to safeguard lives.
While the first two rescued victims were freed on health grounds — an outcome CFAN described as a “divine arrangement” — the remaining three members were still in captivity, intensifying pressure on the association, families, and security agencies to secure their release. Over the following days, negotiations between family representatives and the kidnappers were understood to have taken place, culminating in the payment of an undisclosed ransom to secure the freedom of the three captives.
CFAN’s national leadership confirmed that the final three victims were released between midnight and 2 a.m. at a confidential location in Ogun State, with the operation described as delicate due to security concerns. The process was briefly disrupted when a sudden gunshot occurred at a secondary location in Ibadan as the freed farmers were being moved, momentarily disorienting them. The association noted that two of the released victims were assisted to safety by Amotekun operatives near a quarry site, while the third walked to contact the association early the next morning.
CFAN identified the freed farmers as Ayebusiwa Toyin, Ayebusiwa Tayo, and Omosoluyi Omoseyimi, confirming that all five abducted members have now regained their freedom. The association expressed deep relief at the outcome and extended gratitude to security agencies, local authorities, cocoa stakeholders, the management of CRIN, family members, and the public for their support during the ordeal.
In its statement, CFAN reiterated calls for enhanced security measures at and around CRIN and similar agricultural facilities to prevent future attacks that threaten staff, visitors, and critical agricultural operations. Farmers and rural workers have increasingly found themselves at risk as kidnapping — once largely associated with northern regions of Nigeria — has expanded into parts of the South‑West, including areas bordering Oyo and Ogun states.
The incident also sparked broader discussions about the growing trend of kidnapping for ransom across rural communities, where farm visits, seedling collections, and agricultural activities are vulnerable due to insufficient security infrastructure. Analysts note that kidnapping not only endangers lives but also has economic ramifications, often forcing families to make difficult financial sacrifices that can undermine productivity and local food systems. The rising incidence of abductions has already contributed to farm abandonment and financial strain on households in several states, highlighting the broader impact of insecurity on agriculture and rural livelihoods.
Local government authorities and community leaders in Oyo State, including the Chairman of Oluyole Local Government Area, have commended the collaborative efforts of security operatives and reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing cooperation with national and state agencies to ensure the safety of citizens and agricultural stakeholders in the region.
The successful release of the abducted cocoa farmers — albeit following a ransom payment — underscores the delicate balance between community resilience, family advocacy, and law enforcement efforts in addressing kidnappings that target Nigerians across diverse regions of the country.
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