A graduate from Ondo State, Gbolahan Olaniyi, has shared a harrowing account of his abduction and eventual escape from a kidnappers' den in Ekiti State. Olaniyi was seized by armed men while working on his farm, marking the beginning of a multi-week nightmare that exposed the grave dangers faced by agricultural workers and rural landowners in parts of the region.
According to the survivor, the initial ransom demand set by the abductors for his release was fifteen million naira. During the captivity, Olaniyi suffered alongside his tractor operator, who had also been seized during the farm raid. Tragically, the tractor operator was killed by the captors after his family reportedly struggled and failed to raise the funds required to meet the ransom demands.
Olaniyi recounted that even after his own relatives managed to gather and deliver a ransom payment, his ordeal did not end immediately. Instead of being released as expected, he was transferred to a secondary group of criminals who demanded even more money. Negotiations eventually brought the secondary payment down to two million naira, yet the captives continued to endure severe mistreatment and unbearable conditions in the forest hideout.
Despite the ongoing threats and psychological trauma, Olaniyi explained that he and other captives managed to seize a rare opportunity to flee their captors. The successful escape brought an end to his captivity, allowing him to reunite with his family in Ondo State. The incident highlights the persistent security challenges in rural areas, where farmers and farm workers remain vulnerable to criminal gangs operating in secluded areas.
Source reporting: Punch — 2026-11-02 17:47:54
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