Olusesi Adekunle Sofoluwe, a commercial farmer and a father of two, shared the harrowing account of his two kidnappings within a year, causing immense financial distress for his family and leaving them in a perpetual state of anxiety.
The first abduction took place on November 10, 2023, as Olusesi was returning from his family farm. He was held captive for four torturous days while his kidnappers demanded a ransom of Twenty Million Naira (N20,000,000).
EaglesPath Online reports that despite the involvement of law enforcement, the abductors remained elusive, forcing Olusesi’s wife, Anuoluwapo Esther Olusesi-Sofoluwe, to sell their valuables to meet the ransom.
Olusesi recounted the brutality inflicted upon him during captivity, including the horrifying incident where acid was poured at the back of his right leg as a threat.
On January 28, 2024, barely three months after the first ordeal, Olusesi faced a second nightmare as he was kidnapped again—this time from his home at No. 23 Akinrimisa Street, Ojoo, Ibadan, in the presence of his wife and children.
The kidnappers held him for seven days, during which they threatened to target his children next.
A ransom of Thirty Million Naira (N30,000,000) was paid before he was finally released.
This terrifying series of events has left Olusesi Sofoluwe’s family living in constant fear.
“The kidnappers threatening they are coming for my kids next. I don’t want my kids to experience this,” Olusesi said, with fear in his voice.
The family has since lost all their properties, including their farm, to pay the ransom. Despite reporting both incidents to the police, no leads have been found; leaving the family in a state of fear and vulnerability.
“We are living in constant fear, knowing they could strike again. We’ve lost everything, and now our lives are at risk,” said Anuoluwapo, who has been the backbone of the family throughout these ordeals.
Police in-charge of the case, Inspector Nurudeen Olawale of Ojoo Divisional Police Station stated that, “It is saddened that the rate of kidnapping is still alarming. Inspector Nurudeen expressed disappointment that the Sofoluwe’s family did not contact law enforcement prior to paying the ransom for Mr. Olusesi’s release, while acknowledging the urgency of the situation due to the threat to Olusesi’s life in the kidnapper’s den.
He assures the public that the authorities are doing everything possible to locate the kidnappers. The case will be transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad in the State Criminal Investigation Department at Iyaganku Police Station to facilitate a swift and thorough investigation.
In the aftermath of the harrowing kidnappings of Olusesi Adekunle Sofoluwe, the family urges law enforcement agencies and the government to increase efforts to combat this crime and apprehend the culprits responsible for their suffering.
“I am appealing to the government, human rights organizations, and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene. We need justice and protection,” Sofoluwe pleaded.
The family’s ordeal highlights the growing insecurity in Nigeria and the devastating impact of kidnapping on victims and their families.
According to a report by research firm SBM Intelligence, as reported by EaglesPath Online, Nigeria has witnessed a significant surge in kidnappings between July 2022 and June 2023.
During this period, gunmen kidnapped at least 3,620 people, with a staggering total ransom demand exceeding N5bn (approximately $6.5m).
The report further revealed that, alarmingly, some victims were killed despite their families paying the demanded ransom.
This stark data sheds light on the urgent need for improved security measures to protect Nigerian citizens from the scourge of kidnapping and associated violence.