Incessant Abductions in Ijebu Axis: Ogun State now a Safe Haven for Kidnappers and Bandits

FFRC calls on Gov Dapo Abiodun and security agencies to wake up to their responsibilities of guaranteeing security of residents of the state.

The Food and Farmers’ Rights Campaign (FFRC) condemns the incessant abductions of citizens, especially farmers around Ijebu axis in particular, and Ogun state in general, and the ineptitude of the security agencies especially the Nigeria Police Force, and the insensitivity of the Dapo Abiodun-led government in the face of worsening insecurity. We call on the security agencies and the Ogun state government to wake up from their self-induced slumber and prioritize the security of lives of citizens by tackling the escalating spate of kidnappings and banditry with all the seriousness it deserves. FFRC notes that Ijebuland in particular and Ogun state in general has become a safe haven for criminal gangs, including terrorists, kidnappers, bandits and robbers who are currently on free range, perpetrating their iniquitous criminal activities unchallenged.

Notably, the Ikangba/Agoro-Okun Owa axis of the Old Lagos-Benin Road, in the Odogbolu Local Government Area of the state, which hosts one of the biggest catfish farm clusters and value chain addition in the state, has become a den of kidnappers and kidnappings. Instructively, since Monday, February 9th 2026, when the first kidnapping incident happened, involving Mr Adams Omamegbe and four others at Alayo Fish Farm Cluster in Agoro Town, there’s no month without incidents of abductions taking place on that route. In fact, on Tuesday March 31st, 2026, few weeks after Mr Adams and other victims regained their freedom, Mr Adewale Amusa a poultry farmer from Ayepe Town, was also abducted just a few meters from Alayo Fish Farm Cluster, where the first kidnapping took place. And on April 24th, 2026, another victim was also kidnapped. He is Mr Osidipe Olusoji, a retired civil servant at Railway. He remains in the kidnappers’ den as at the time of this press release. No information about his whereabouts!

In any event, the worrisome and heartrending thing about all of these abductions are that these criminals not only seem to be ‘invisible’ evading arrests, they also seamlessly negotiate their ransoms through the phones of their victims, giving instructions as to where, when and how the payments are to be made. And from the freed victims’ accounts, all the ransoms were paid in cash and delivered at Omu-Aran in Kwara state. While Mr Omamegbe paid N70m (seventy million naira only) as ransom, Mr Amusa was said to have paid N200m (two hundred Million naira only). Paradoxically, in the case of Amusa’s ransom payment, some security officers were allegedly involved in the negotiations, and also escorted and accompanied the ransom to Omu Aran for safe delivery, where it was said to be ferried by a helicopter to an unknown destination!

The kidnappings in Ikangba Agoro-Okun Owa axis are not an isolated situation. Across Ijebuland, the patterns are the same. From Oke Erin/Imope along Ijebu Ode- Ibadan express road, Imagbon, Itele, among others, citizens are being abducted at will by criminal elements, and collecting tens of millions of naira being forced out of the victims’ families as ransom payments. Presently, in most of these areas especially the agrarian ones, like Ikangba/Agoro, Oke Erin, etc, some farmers have abandoned their farms for fear of being kidnapped. While those still tending their farms, are doing so at their own peril, and in palpable fears and helplessness. This is not limited to Ijebu axis alone, it’s the same across the state, including Ogunmakin areas along Lagos -Ibadan express road.

In all of these, the only seeming concern of Governor Dapo Abiodun is how to win Ogun East Senatorial election. While the pin-drop silence of the security agencies especially the Ogun state command of the Nigeria Police Force in the face of worsening insecurity is more than telling and beggar on culpability!

As far as we are concerned in the FFRC, it’s clear that the debilitating pervasive insecurity crisis currently plaguing the state, would not improve or be eradicated soonest, if the farmers, workers artisans, market men and women, civil society organizations etc don’t get organized and mobilize for mass actions. This is to demand that the governments and the security agencies especially the members of the Nigeria Police do the needful by combing off the forests, where these criminals presently reside including the Agoro-Okun Owa axis, dislodging and getting them arrested and prosecuted in courts, including their sponsors, and others who are aiding and abetting these criminals. This should be linked with the total reversal of all anti poor policies of the governments at all levels; proper funding of education; massive investments in agriculture; and other social sectors with a view to guaranteeing gainful employments for the teeming idle population, so as to reduce the alarming rate of crime and engagement in criminal enterprises.

In conclusion, FFRC urges communities bedeviled by kidnappings, banditry, robbery and other forms of criminalities to come together and embark on mass actions including protests, demonstration, rallies, sit-in among others, which shouldn’t be one-off to compel the governments and the security agencies to act accordingly and ensure these criminals are rooted out. In addition, residents should also take control of their security by forming multi ethnic, non sectarian and multi religious defense committees capable of bearing arms when necessary to combat the current waves of Insecurity across the state. FFRC calls the governments and the security forces to act with alacrity at ensuring that the kidnapped victim still in kidnappers’ dens is swiftly freed without delay and reunited with his family. Also importantly, we demand the payments of compensation to all victims of abduction who were compelled to raise millions of naira in ransom. We also call on all well-meaning Nigerians including the NLC, TUC and civil society organizations, to lend their voices and call on the Dapo Abiodun and Tinubu governments to seriously confront the escalating insecurity crisis in Ogun state before it grows out of control and proportion, to the present levels being experienced in the cases of the Northwestern states and the Middle belt, especially Benue state. A stitch in time saves nine!

Eko John Nicholas

National Coordinator

Food and Farmers’ Rights Campaigns (FFRC)

08022634850