Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The sun was high over the Ikenne Farm Settlement in Ogun State on Sunday afternoon, August 9, 2026, when 33-year-old Oreoluwa Osonuga climbed into his vehicle to run a routine errand. He needed fuel and had poultry products to deliver – nothing out of the ordinary for a young farmer trying to build a life. But as he drove out of the farm settlement at about 12:05 p.m., gunmen emerged from the bush, intercepted his vehicle, fired shots at it, and forced him into the dense forest. In a matter of seconds, a farmer's ordinary Sunday became a family's worst nightmare.
The abductors have since contacted Osonuga's family using his mobile phone and demanded a staggering N500 million ransom for his release. The victim, who operates a poultry farm in the Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, is the son-in-law of veteran journalist and former Managing Director of the defunct Monitor newspaper, Ayo Akinyemi. He is also the son of Dr Osonuga Bunmi of the Department of Physiology at Olabisi Onabanjo University and Mrs Osonuga Tiwalade, a senior teacher in Ayepe, Ijebu.
The attack occurred in broad daylight, sending shockwaves through the farming community. According to a statement issued by the Chairman of the Farm Settlement, Seye Kehinde, the victim was on his way out of the farm when he was accosted by the gunmen, who shot at his car before forcing him into the bush. Security personnel were immediately alerted, and soldiers were deployed from Ilese to comb the surrounding forest in an attempt to rescue the victim. Despite these efforts, there has been no breakthrough. "Today is Day 2. No significant development on either the rescue or release of kidnapped Oreoluwa Osonuga," Kehinde said in a follow-up statement on Monday. "There has not been further contact from the abductors since the brief one made yesterday (Sunday) evening, around 5 p.m., with a cousin of the victim's father, during which a demand for N500 million ransom was made".
The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, confirmed the abduction and assured the public that security operatives had commenced efforts to locate the victim and his abductors. "We got the report of the kidnapping case and we are currently doing our investigation and making progress to rescue the victims," Ojajuni stated. The police have recovered Osonuga's 2017 Toyota Highlander SUV, which was abandoned at the scene of the abduction.
The victim's uncle, Prof. Soga Osonuga, described the incident as a source of deep anxiety and distress for the family. "It has been a very difficult time for the family. We are emotionally and psychologically upset. This is a young man who is trying and struggling to do something reasonable with his life and make ends meet, and for such a young man to be facing something like this has thrown the family, friends, and well-wishers into a state of unnecessary anxiety," he said. He appealed to the government and security agencies to act swiftly and ensure his nephew's safe return.
The abduction has heightened anxiety among farmers and residents of the settlement, coming barely four months after another farmer was abducted from the area on April 1, 2026. That victim spent several days in captivity before being released after a ransom was reportedly paid. The pattern of attacks has raised serious concerns about the safety of rural communities and farming settlements in Ogun State, where economic activities are increasingly being threatened by criminal networks.
The latest incident is part of a troubling surge in kidnapping cases across Ogun State. In July 2026, suspected gunmen abducted two individuals in the Kobape area of Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area and demanded N50 million for their release; the victims were later freed after their families reportedly paid a ransom. In May 2026, the Ogun State Police Command's Anti-Kidnapping Unit killed two suspected kidnappers and arrested two others following the abduction of three people around Ipojo, Iperin and Atan-Ijebu. An AK-47 rifle, another firearm and N1.5 million suspected to be ransom proceeds were recovered. In June, the police rescued a kidnapping victim after a gun battle with suspected abductors in the state, killing two suspects and recovering N2.2 million, a firearm and other items linked to the gang.
The abduction of Oreoluwa Osonuga underscores the persistent security challenge confronting residents, particularly in areas close to forests and rural settlements. Despite the efforts of security agencies, the frequency of such incidents suggests that more robust measures are needed to protect communities and restore confidence in the security apparatus. The Ogun State Government has yet to issue an official statement on the incident, but the police have assured the public that investigations are ongoing and that every effort is being made to secure the victim's release.
As the clock ticks and the family waits in agonising suspense, the question on everyone's mind is whether the authorities can locate Osonuga before it is too late. The N500 million ransom demand, one of the highest in recent memory, has placed the family in an impossible position, forcing them to grapple with the prospect of raising an astronomical sum or trusting in the capacity of the security forces to bring their loved one home. For the people of Ikenne and the wider Ogun State, the abduction serves as a stark reminder that the fight against kidnapping is far from over, and that the safety of farmers and rural communities must be prioritised if the nation's agricultural sector is to thrive.
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