Prince Eniola Ojajuni, the National Youth President of Afenifere, has narrated his harrowing experience in the hands of kidnappers suspected to be armed Fulani herdsmen. The Yoruba youth leader, who spent 12 days in captivity, has now called for urgent and decisive action to curb the rising wave of abductions across Southwest Nigeria.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, Ojajuni revealed that he was kidnapped on February 17, 2025, while traveling near Akunu Akoko in Ondo State en route to Abuja. According to him, his vehicle was ambushed by gunmen dressed in military uniforms, just a short distance from a security checkpoint.
“The attackers sprayed our vehicle with 19 bullets, wounding me and others before forcibly abducting us,” he recounted. “I sustained two gunshot wounds—one narrowly missing my spinal cord—and was subjected to relentless physical abuse, including being beaten 72 times daily.”
He further disclosed that the kidnappers were well-armed, possessing over 20 AK-47 rifles, and demonstrated a high level of coordination and technological sophistication. They reportedly used his phone to track communications, block certain contacts, and evade security forces.
Growing Threat Across the Southwest
Prince Ojajuni painted a grim picture of the kidnappers’ activities, revealing the existence of well-organized criminal camps spread across the Southwest region:
Ondo State – 27 camps
Ekiti State – 16 camps
Osun State – 7 camps
Ogun State – 5 camps
He disclosed that the kidnappers had initially planned to collect his ransom in Ikare but later shifted to Ibilo after learning that security operatives were tracking their movements.
Call for Urgent Action
Expressing deep concern over the increasing audacity of these criminals, Ojajuni called on the Southwest Governors’ Forum to convene an urgent security summit involving youth representatives. He proposed the establishment of a Southwest Youth Security Network in collaboration with the Inspector General of Police and the Nigeria Forest Guards.
According to him, such an initiative would strengthen intelligence gathering, improve community surveillance, and ensure swift reporting of suspicious activities. He pledged to provide firsthand intelligence from his time in captivity to assist security agencies in dismantling the criminal networks.
Ojajuni criticized the Ondo State government for what he described as a lack of urgency in addressing the security crisis, warning that failure to act could embolden kidnappers to extend their operations.
Revealed Plans to Target Lagos and Ogun
During his time in captivity, Ojajuni said the kidnappers boasted about their plans to intensify abductions in Ondo and Lagos States, citing their hidden camps in these regions. They also mentioned ongoing operations along the Sagamu–Ijebu Ode Road, particularly around Oso-Sa Ijebu, weeks before his abduction.
“This intelligence should serve as a wake-up call to all security agencies and state governments in the Southwest. If urgent measures are not taken, more innocent lives will be at risk,” he warned.
Solidarity with Fellow Victims
Ojajuni also paid tribute to his fellow captives, including a man identified as Garuba (Dongo) and their driver, who endured the ordeal alongside him. He particularly mentioned two women who suffered severe abuse and are still receiving medical attention:
Mrs. Ramota (from Okitipupa, Ondo State, originally from Kwara State)
An unnamed woman from Abuja, whose condition he is still trying to verify.
He extended his solidarity to the seven men and two women who were kidnapped alongside him, stressing that their suffering should serve as a catalyst for change.
Demands for Government Action
Ojajuni listed key measures the Nigerian government must take to address the rising insecurity:
Deploy additional security personnel to high-risk areas.
Establish more security checkpoints along highways and forest borders.
Enhance intelligence-gathering and surveillance operations.
Identify and prosecute collaborators aiding these criminals.
Conduct comprehensive security sweeps across forests in Edo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Ibilo, and Lagos.
He commended the Inspector General of Police for launching an intelligence-driven rescue operation and acknowledged the Nigeria Forest Team for their intervention. However, he stressed that more decisive action is needed.
“The Time for Action is Now”
Ojajuni concluded with a passionate call for urgent action, stating that Nigerians must no longer live under the constant threat of insecurity.
“Our leaders must be held accountable, and we must demand immediate solutions to end the reign of terror inflicted by these criminals. We must rise, defend our communities, and secure a safer future for all,” he declared.
