Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The families of two residents of Kobape in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State are desperately appealing for help after suspected gunmen abducted Kelvin Ayobami Moyegun and Kehinde Rufai on Thursday evening, 9 July 2026, and demanded a staggering N50 million ransom for their release. The attack, which occurred at about 7 p.m., also left another resident, Al-haqq Shobakin, with a gunshot wound to the chest. He is currently receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit of a private hospital in Abeokuta.
According to accounts from a relative of one of the victims, the incident unfolded when resident Olayinka Obadimu was about to leave the premises. Shobakin stepped out to open the gate for him, and the two were confronted by about four armed men at the gate. Obadimu managed to speed away under gunfire, but Shobakin was shot. The gunmen then entered the house and abducted Moyegun and Rufai. A relative who identified himself simply as Tosin told reporters: "They thereafter abducted my brother, Kelvin, and another young lady, Kehinde. The security agencies, such as the police, Amotekun Corps and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, have been alerted, and we are hoping that they will help us bring back our loved ones."
Speaking on Sunday, 12 July 2026, Kehinde's sister, Shukurat Rufai, disclosed that the kidnappers had contacted the family and were demanding N25 million for each of the abductees. Efforts to negotiate a lower ransom proved abortive, as the kidnappers refused to reduce the amount. Rufai appealed to the government for help, stating: "We are just a poor family, and we don't have anywhere to get such a huge amount of money from. We are appealing to the government to help us rescue them."
The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the incident on Friday, 10 July 2026, stating that operatives of the command had been deployed to rescue the victims and arrest the perpetrators. "I can confirm that there was an abduction, and one person is currently in the hospital receiving medical treatment. The command has deployed its operatives to rescue those who were abducted and also arrest the perpetrators," Babaseyi said.
The abduction comes barely one month after the Lagos and Ogun State Police Commands launched a joint operation codenamed "Operation Kosaye" — a Yoruba phrase meaning "there is no hiding place" — aimed at dismantling kidnapping syndicates, armed robbery gangs, and other violent criminal groups operating along the border corridor between the two states. The operation had already yielded results, including the rescue of five kidnap victims, the arrest of 88 suspects, and the neutralisation of four suspected kidnappers.
As the search for the abducted victims continues, their families and the Kobape community remain anxious, hoping for a swift rescue. The police have urged anyone with useful information to come forward and assist in the ongoing operation.
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