A resident of Owo in Ondo State, Mr. Jide Ogundare* has recounted his harrowing experience in the hands of kidnappers who abducted him, his wife, and daughter on March 7, 2025, slamming the Nigerian police and Ondo State government for abandoning his family throughout the ordeal.
Ogundare, who was kidnapped near his residence shortly after returning from evening prayers with his family, told SaharaReporters that their assailants—four heavily armed men—sprang from the shadows, seized them at gunpoint, and forced them into the surrounding forest.
“They weren’t there to kill,” Ogundare said. “They made it clear they wanted money. But what followed was seven days of horror—no food, no water, and brutal treks through farmlands and forests.”
The kidnappers initially demanded N50 million, later slashing the ransom to N30 million. Despite frantic fundraising efforts by Ogundare’s relatives, the criminals held out for more money even after receiving N10 million.
The leader of the gang, known as “Alhaji,” reportedly claimed some local collaborators had already received N3 million for providing intelligence on Ogundare’s movement.
“They knew my routine. They knew when I got home. That’s how I knew it was an inside job,” Ogundare said. “It was orchestrated.”
The ransom was eventually reduced to N17 million after Ogundare’s daughter recited verses from the Qur’an, which, he said, softened the gang leader.
“He told me that because of what my daughter recited, he would spare our lives and reduce the ransom,” Ogundare recounted.
Following their release in the Oja-Oba area of Ondo town after seven days in captivity, the family emerged emotionally and physically broken.
“We didn’t cry. There were no tears left. My wife held our daughter, who hadn’t spoken in hours,” he said.
Ogundare is now neck-deep in debt, owing N9 million to friends and family who supported the ransom payment.
“I’ve used all my savings. I’ve borrowed from people who trusted me, and now they’re asking for their money. But where do I turn?” he asked.
He expressed deep disappointment in the state government and security agencies, stating that no meaningful assistance was offered during or after the ordeal.
“I visited the deputy governor. He only said he pitied me. That was it. No help. No commitment,” Ogundare lamented.
“The police did nothing. Only the DSS called once. Even while we were still in the forest, there was no effort to track us.”
The traumatic incident, he added, has left lasting psychological scars, especially on his daughter, who now suffers night terrors and remains sensitive to loud sounds.
His story underscores a broader security crisis engulfing Ondo State. In a related development, the APC chairman of Ward 5 in Ifon, Nelson Adepoyigi, was recently murdered after being kidnapped.
According to the Ose Local Government chairman, Clement Kolapo Ojo, the region is “under siege.”
Despite the state government’s allocation of over N2.3 billion to its security outfit, Amotekun, in the 2025 budget, reports show that no money was spent on security infrastructure in the first quarter.
However, over N167 million was spent on refreshments and another N674 million categorized under “other expenditures.”
“Families like mine were left to die,” Ogundare concluded, with tears welling in his eyes. “Even after surviving, it feels like we’re still on our own.”
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