By By Micheal Chukwuebuka
The Food and Farmers’ Rights Campaign (FFRC) has raised concerns over what it described as an alarming rise in kidnappings and banditry across Ogun State, particularly in the Ijebu axis, accusing the state government and security agencies of failing to adequately protect residents.
In a press statement dated 27 April 2026, the organisation said worsening insecurity in several agrarian communities had created fear among farmers and local residents, with many reportedly abandoning their farms due to the growing threat of abduction.
The group alleged that communities across Ijebuland, including Odogbolu, Oke Erin, Imope, Imagbon and Itele, have witnessed repeated incidents of kidnapping in recent months, adding that criminal gangs now operate freely across parts of the state.
According to FFRC, the Ikangba/Agoro-Okun Owa corridor along the Old Lagos-Benin Road in Odogbolu Local Government Area has become a major hotspot for abductions. The route, which hosts one of the largest catfish farming clusters in Ogun State, has reportedly recorded frequent kidnapping incidents since February.
The organisation cited the abduction of fish farmer Adams Omamegbe and four others on 9 February 2026 at Alayo Fish Farm Cluster in Agoro Town. It claimed that just weeks after the victims regained their freedom, another farmer, Adewale Amusa from Ayepe Town, was abducted on 31 March near the same area.
FFRC also referenced the alleged abduction of retired railway worker Osidipe Olusoji on 24 April 2026, stating that he remained in captivity at the time of the statement.
The group alleged that kidnappers have been operating with little resistance, negotiating ransom payments through victims’ mobile phones and instructing families on where and how to deliver cash.
According to accounts cited by FFRC, ransom payments linked to recent cases were allegedly delivered in Omu-Aran, Kwara State. The organisation claimed that Omamegbe paid ₦70 million to secure his release, while Amusa reportedly paid ₦200 million.
FFRC further alleged that some security personnel were involved in negotiations linked to one of the ransom payments, though no evidence was provided to substantiate the claim.
The organisation accused the Ogun State Government, led by Governor Dapo Abiodun, of not doing enough to tackle insecurity, while also criticising the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Police Force for what it described as silence in the face of worsening criminal activity.
It warned that continued insecurity could further affect farming communities and agricultural production, as many residents now fear travelling to remote locations.
The group called on the government and security agencies to intensify surveillance, comb forests believed to be hideouts for criminal gangs and ensure the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for kidnappings.
FFRC also urged communities to organise peaceful protests and advocacy campaigns aimed at drawing attention to the insecurity crisis, while calling for improved investment in agriculture, education and job creation to address the socio-economic factors contributing to crime.
The organisation appealed for the immediate rescue of those still in captivity and demanded compensation for victims who were forced to pay large sums in ransom.
Signed by its National Coordinator, Eko John Nicholas, the statement called on labour unions, civil society groups and other stakeholders to pressure both the Ogun State and Federal Governments to address the worsening security situation before it escalates further.
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