Awe Ayomide
The recently freed Afenifere National Youth President, Eniola Ojajuni, has raised the alarm over the escalating security crisis in the South-West, revealing that kidnappers have set up no fewer than 55 camps across the region.
Ojajuni, who endured 12 harrowing days in captivity, was abducted on February 17, 2025, while traveling from Ondo State to Abuja. He disclosed that the kidnappers operate extensively in Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, and Ogun states.
In a statement on Sunday, Ojajuni revealed that the kidnappers openly discussed their plans to intensify abductions in Ondo and Lagos states, boasting of their well-organised camps strategically positioned for operations.
He detailed the distribution of these camps as follows:Ondo State – 27 camps, Ekiti State – 16 camps, Osun State – seven camps and Ogun State – five camps
“During my captivity, the kidnappers boasted of their plans to intensify abductions in Ondo and Lagos states, citing their hidden camps in these regions,” he stated.
He also disclosed that the criminals had revealed their operations along the Sagamu–Ijebu Ode Road, near Ososa-Ijebu, weeks before his abduction.
Ojajuni urged the Nigerian government and security agencies to conduct thorough security sweeps across forests in Edo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Ibilo, and Lagos states to dislodge the criminals.
He emphasized the need for heightened intelligence efforts by security agencies and state governments to tackle the menace effectively.
Following his release, Ojajuni addressed the press, urging South-West leaders to take immediate and decisive action to combat the growing security crisis.
He advocated the establishment of a robust regional security network, collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Forest Guards to eliminate the threat posed by kidnappers.
Specifically, he called on the Ondo State government to take urgent action against the criminals operating in the region.
“The Ondo State government, in particular, has been criticised for its lack of urgency in addressing this crisis.”
“The growing audacity of these criminals must not go unchecked. Immediate action is needed to restore security and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
Ojajuni also pledged to provide firsthand intelligence gained during his captivity to aid security agencies in dismantling the kidnappers’ operations.
He further stressed the urgent need for more security checkpoints along highways and forest borders to combat the rising criminal activities.
“The Nigerian government must act swiftly and decisively to combat this crisis by deploying additional security personnel to high-risk areas, establishing more security checkpoints along highways and forest borders, enhancing intelligence-gathering and surveillance operations, and identifying and prosecuting collaborators aiding these criminals,” he urged.
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