Gunmen kidnap Ogun farm owner, demand ₦500m ransom

Gunmen have abducted a farm owner, Oreoluwa Osonuga, in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, with the kidnappers reportedly demanding ₦500 million for his release.

Osonuga was abducted on Sunday afternoon while reportedly driving out to buy fuel and deliver poultry products.

Sources said the gunmen intercepted his vehicle and took him away, leaving his 2017 Toyota Highlander SUV behind at the scene.

The vehicle was later recovered by the Divisional Police Officer in Ikenne.

The kidnappers have reportedly contacted Osonuga’s family using his phone and demanded N500 million as ransom, according to sources familiar with the incident.

The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, confirmed the abduction late on Sunday and said security operatives had commenced efforts to locate the victim and his abductors.

Ojajuni assured the family that the police were taking measures to secure Osonuga’s safe release.

Osonuga is the son of Dr Osonuga Bunmi of the Department of Physiology at Olabisi Onabanjo University and Mrs Osonuga Tiwalade, a senior teacher in Ayepe, Ijebu.

He is also related by marriage to veteran journalist Ayo Akinyemi.

The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of residents and business owners in parts of Ogun State and the South-West, as security operatives intensify efforts to track down the perpetrators and rescue the abducted farm owner. (Guardian)