33yrs old poultry farmer ∆bducted, k!dnappers demand N500m rans0m

33yrs old poultry farmer abducted, kidnappers demand N500m ransom

KIDNAP ALERT: A 33-year-old poultry farmer, Oreoluwa Osonuga, has been abducted by gunmen at the Ikenne Farm Settlement in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, with his abductors reportedly demanding N500 million for his release.

Osonuga was reportedly kidnapped around 12:05 p.m. on Sunday while leaving the farm. The gunmen allegedly shot at his vehicle before forcing him into the surrounding bush.

Security personnel were alerted, while soldiers deployed from Ilese reportedly combed the area in search of the victim, but no rescue had been recorded as of Monday.

The farm settlement chairman, Seye Kehinde, said the kidnappers contacted Osonuga’s family around 5 p.m. on Sunday using the victim’s phone and demanded the ransom.

“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,” he said.

The incident has heightened concerns among farmers and residents, coming about four months after another farmer in the settlement was abducted and later released after several days in captivity.

Osonuga’s uncle, Prof. Soga Osonuga, appealed to security agencies to intensify efforts to secure his nephew’s safe release.

“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,” he said.

“We plead with the government and security agencies to please act fast and help bring back our son safely.”

The Ogun State Police Command is reportedly aware of the incident, while efforts to locate and rescue the farmer are ongoing.