Speaking at a press conference, Ojajuni recounted his recent abduction, describing it as a wake-up call for the government and security agencies.
Prince Eniola Ojajuni, the National Youth President of Afenifere, has called for urgent action against the rising wave of kidnappings by herdsmen in Southwest Nigeria.
Speaking at a press conference, Ojajuni recounted his recent abduction, describing it as a wake-up call for the government and security agencies.
“On February 17, 2025, I was ambushed near Akunu Akoko, Ondo State, while travelling to Abuja. Armed Fulani herdsmen, disguised in military uniforms, opened fire on my vehicle, hitting it with 19 bullets before abducting me and others,” he revealed.
Ojajuni narrated how he spent 12 days in captivity, suffering two gunshot wounds—one narrowly missing his spinal cord—alongside severe physical abuse.
“I was beaten 72 times daily and witnessed fellow captives, especially women, being brutally mistreated. The kidnappers were well-organised and heavily armed, wielding over 20 AK-47 rifles,” he said.
According to Ojajuni, the kidnappers have set up multiple camps across the region, using advanced technology to track victims and evade security forces. He provided alarming figures: 27 camps in Ondo State, 16 in Ekiti, 7 in Osun, and 5 in Ogun.
He also described how his ransom payment had to be relocated from Ikare to Ibilo after the kidnappers detected security forces tracking them.
“They thoroughly searched my phone, blocked certain contacts, and monitored social media to remain undetected,” he added.
Ojajuni urged the Southwest Governors’ Forum to convene a security summit with youth representatives to address the crisis.
He proposed establishing a Southwest Youth Security Network in collaboration with the Inspector General of Police and the Nigeria Forest Guards Team to enhance intelligence gathering, improve community surveillance, and ensure swift reporting of suspicious activities.
“I am ready to provide firsthand intelligence on these kidnappers’ operations, gained during my captivity, to help dismantle their networks,” he declared.
He also criticised the Ondo State government for inaction, warning that kidnappers openly plan to intensify abductions in Ondo and Lagos states.
“They revealed details of their operations along the Sagamu–Ijebu Ode Road weeks before my abduction. If urgent measures are not taken, more innocent lives will be at risk,” he cautioned.
Ojajuni commended the bravery of his fellow captives, including two women who suffered severe abuse and are still receiving medical treatment. “Their suffering must not be in vain—it must be a catalyst for change,” he asserted.
Ojajuni reiterated his call for immediate government action, including deploying additional security personnel to high-risk areas, establishing more security checkpoints along highways and forest borders, enhancing intelligence gathering and surveillance, identifying and prosecuting collaborators aiding these criminals, and conducting security sweeps in forests across Ibilo, Edo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, and Lagos.
While he acknowledged the Inspector General of Police’s intelligence-driven rescue operation and the efforts of the Nigeria Forest Guards Team, he insisted that more should be done to protect citizens.
“Nigerians should not have to live under the constant threat of insecurity,” Ojajuni concluded. “We are resilient, but we must demand immediate solutions to end this reign of terror. Our leaders must be held accountable, and we must rise to defend our communities for a safer future.”
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Ojajuni was kidnapped on Monday, February 17, 2025, and that his abductors initially demanded N100 million in ransom.
A voice recording obtained before his release revealed a tense conversation between his family and the kidnappers, who threatened to kill him within 48 hours if the ransom was not paid.
A source familiar with the situation revealed that N17 million was eventually raised to secure his freedom. Ojajuni’s wife personally delivered the ransom in Akure before his release.
Despite repeated pleas, the Nigerian government provided no financial assistance, and security agencies were reportedly unable to track the kidnappers’ location until the ransom was paid.
“We heard nothing from the government despite repeated promises, and police efforts yielded no results. We had no choice but to raise the funds ourselves,” a source told SaharaReporters.
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