Rofiat Abdulazeez, daughter of 57-year-old farmer, Abiodun, whose lifeless body was found in his cocoa farm in Owa-Onire, Kwara State, speaks to DARE AKOGUN about the family’s desperate search for him before his corpse was found, the agony of receiving his body instead of a call for ransom, and why they are pleading for justice
How related are you to the late Abiodun Abdulazeez?
I am the second daughter of the late Abiodun Abdulazeez, popularly known as Kebe. My father was 57 years old before he was killed.
Could you walk us through the morning of July 11? What happened before he left home?
That morning is one I will never forget. Around 7 am, my father got ready for the farm. Before leaving, he drank pap.. He told us he was going to his cocoa farm in Owa-Onire to plant cocoa. He also assured us that he would not spend much time there and promised he would return early.
There was nothing unusual about that morning. He was calm as always. Nobody imagined those would be the last words we would hear from him. If we had known, maybe we would have begged him not to go.
How long had he been farming there?
My father had farmed on that land for about 25 years. The farm is located in Owa-Onire, while we live in Isalu. The journey takes about two hours. Farming was his life. It was not just his occupation; it was how he fed us and took care of the extended family. He knew every part of that land because he had worked there for decades.
Did he ever express fears about going to the farm?
No, he never specifically complained about being afraid to go there. However, there were periods when insecurity became very serious around that area because of bandit attacks. Whenever that happened, farmers usually stopped going to their farms.
There was a time they stayed away for almost four months because of insecurity. Apart from that, there was another issue last year when some people entered his farm and cut down trees without informing him.
He reported the matter to the traditional ruler of Owa-Onire because he wanted the issue settled peacefully. Beyond those incidents, he never imagined anything like this would happen to him.
When did your family realise something had gone wrong?
Normally, my father never stayed for too long on the farm. Around 12 noon, we became worried because he had not returned. We contacted one of his brothers, who also farms around that area, and he immediately went to look for him. That was when everything changed.
What happened when your uncle got to the farm?
When he arrived, he saw only my father’s motorcycle. The motorcycle was there, but my father was nowhere to be found. He immediately came back to alert the rest of the family. By then, hunters and community members had joined the search. Everyone realised something terrible had happened.
What was the mood in your community after he disappeared?
The whole community became worried. People sympathised with us immediately. Everyone was praying and hoping he would be found alive. It was a very sorrowful atmosphere because my father was known as a peaceful and hardworking man. Nobody expected him to disappear simply because he went to work on his farm.
When you heard that only his motorcycle had been found, what went through your mind?
Immediately we heard that only his motorcycle had been found, we believed he had been kidnapped. That was honestly what everybody thought; nobody imagined he had already been killed. We kept hoping the kidnappers would contact us.
Were you expecting a ransom demand?
Yes, we were waiting for a phone call; we expected they would ask for money. At least, if they demanded ransom, we would know he was still alive. But less than two hours later, everything changed. Instead of a call for ransom, the hunters found his body inside the farm. That hope of seeing him return alive disappeared instantly.
How did your family receive the news of his death?
The hunters did not even need to say much. They simply brought his body home. That moment cannot be described. It remains the most painful experience of my life. No daughter ever prepares herself to receive the lifeless body of her father. It felt like our entire world collapsed within minutes. Even now, I still find it difficult to believe he is gone.
How has his death affected your family?
The impact has been enormous. My father was the breadwinner. He carried the responsibility of not just his immediate family, but many members of the extended family.
Emotionally, we are devastated; financially, we have also been affected because everything depended largely on him. After his death, every day has been painful, and the house is no longer the same. His absence is felt in every corner.
What kind of father was he?
He was a very loving and caring father; he was gentle and had a soft heart. He always encouraged us; he believed in hard work and wanted all his children to become successful. Even after working so hard for many years, he never enjoyed the fruit of his labour.
That is one of the things that makes us very sad. Whenever I think about him, I remember his words of encouragement. That is what I miss most, more than anything else.
He was not just our father; he was the pillar of our family. Everything revolved around him. He worked tirelessly every day just to ensure that everyone in the family had something to eat and lacked nothing within his ability. He was a loving husband, a caring father, and someone many people respected because of his peaceful nature and hard work.
Have the police or any security agency visited your family?
No, nobody has visited us. No security agency has come to our house to take statements from us. We have not received updates about investigations. That silence is painful because we still do not know who killed our father or why.
What kind of justice are you asking for?
We want a proper investigation. We want those responsible to be identified. Whether they were kidnappers or other attackers, we want the truth. At this moment, we do not suspect anyone specifically.
What we want is for security agencies to investigate everyone around the area and uncover exactly what happened. Nobody should leave home to work on a farm and return in a coffin.
What is your message to the government and Nigerians?
As the second daughter of Abdulazeez Abubakar Abiodun (Kebe), I want to appeal to the Kwara State Government, the Federal Government, the police, other security agencies, journalists, bloggers, human rights organisations, and every Nigerian to help us.
Please, help amplify my father’s story. We do not want this case to be forgotten. My father deserves justice. Our family deserves answers. We also want farmers across Isin Local Government Area and other rural communities to be safe.
People should be able to go to their farms without being afraid that they may never return home. We will continue to seek justice until those responsible for killing my father are identified and brought before the law. That is the only way we can begin to heal.
Looking back today, what memory of your father remains strongest?
The last thing he told us was that he was going to plant cocoa. He drank pap before leaving; he smiled and promised he would not stay long. That simple promise keeps replaying in my mind every day. He always kept his word about not staying long.
But none of us knew he would return home lifeless instead of walking through the door as he always did. We can never replace him, but we hope justice will ensure that no other family has to endure the pain we are living with today.
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