By Samuel Ike, Abuja

A 33-year-old poultry farmer, Oreoluwa Osonuga, has been abducted by suspected gunmen at the Ikenne Farm Settlement in Ogun State, with his captors reportedly demanding a ransom of ₦500 million for his release.

The incident occurred around 12:05 p.m. on Sunday and was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the Chairman of the Ikenne Farm Settlement, Seye Kehinde. According to him, Osonuga was attacked while leaving the settlement, and the assailants shot at his vehicle before forcing him into a nearby forest.

Kehinde said security agencies responded swiftly after the incident was reported. Police operatives, anti-kidnapping units, and soldiers deployed from Ilese reportedly launched a search operation and combed the surrounding forest, but efforts to locate the victim have so far yielded no result.

“The farm settlement witnessed a disturbing incident on Sunday afternoon when one of our members, Mr. Oreoluwa Osonuga, a poultry farmer, was kidnapped. He was accosted by armed men while leaving the farm, and despite prompt intervention by security personnel, he was taken away into the bush,” the statement said.

Providing an update on the case, Kehinde revealed that the kidnappers briefly contacted a relative of the victim on Sunday evening, using Osonuga’s mobile phone to demand ₦500 million. He noted that there had been no further communication from the abductors since the initial contact.

“Today marks the second day since the abduction, and there has been no significant breakthrough regarding either his rescue or release. The Ogun State Commissioner of Police has been fully briefed and is monitoring efforts being made by security agencies,” he added.

Kehinde also recalled a similar incident at the settlement four months ago when another farmer was abducted and later released after spending several days in captivity following the payment of a ransom.

The victim’s granduncle, Soga Osonuga, confirmed the abduction and described the development as traumatic for the family. He said relatives were present when the ransom demand was made and appealed to security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the farmer’s safe release.

“It is true that my nephew was kidnapped on Sunday. We received a call from the abductors demanding ransom. Since then, there has been no further contact. The police are aware, but we urge all security agencies to do everything possible to rescue him unharmed,” he said.

Soga lamented that the incident had plunged the family into emotional distress, noting that the victim was a hardworking young farmer contributing to food production and economic development.

Attempts to obtain a reaction from the Ogun State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.

The latest abduction comes days after a joint operation involving the police, the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Army rescued seven students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade. Three suspected kidnappers were reportedly killed during the rescue mission.