An Ondo-based entrepreneur, Mr. Olanrewaju Oyeleye, who returned to Nigeria to invest in farming, has revealed that he paid a staggering ₦25 million ransom to secure his release from kidnappers.
Oyeleye, who was abducted alongside his farm manager near Akure Airport while heading to his farm in Abo-Ashakin, recounted his terrifying ordeal after being freed.
He revealed that his kidnapping happened on the same day his wife gave birth to twins, making the experience even more traumatic for his family.
Ambushed by Armed Herdsmen
According to Oyeleye, the attackers were heavily armed Fulani herdsmen who ambushed him early in the morning.
“I was driving my Toyota Camry when I suddenly saw the road blocked by five or six armed men carrying AK-47 rifles. They ordered me to stop, but I tried to reverse. Before I could react further, they opened fire on my car. The gunshots were relentless; I lost count of how many times they fired. Realizing I had no escape, I surrendered.”
The kidnappers then dragged him and his farm manager deep into the forest, forcing them to trek through the night to an unknown location.
Tortured and Forced to Negotiate Ransom
Oyeleye said his captors initially demanded ₦100 million and became violent when he insisted he didn’t have such an amount.
“They used cutlasses on my head and back for days. Every morning, they would start beating me before forcing me to call my family to demand ransom. They called themselves ‘the Mafia’ and boasted that they feared no one, not even the military.”
He was horrified to hear his abductors making calls to arrange for weapons and supplies, indicating that they had a well-connected network.
“They don’t operate alone. They have a network and powerful backers. My family managed to negotiate the ransom down to ₦25 million, which was delivered in Ise-Ekiti.”
Living in Fear After Release
Although Oyeleye has regained his freedom, he says he now lives in constant fear.
“Yesterday, as I was heading home, I was terrified. Today, stepping outside, I’m still scared. If they could kidnap me in broad daylight, what could happen at night?”
Call for Better Security
Oyeleye believes the impunity of these criminals is fueling their audacity. He has urged the government to take decisive action by strengthening security forces, equipping them with modern technology, and reinforcing community policing to curb the rising menace of kidnapping.
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