The family of Olayinka Oremade, a woman reportedly abducted by gunmen in the Alapako/Oyebola area of Ogun State, has called on the Nigeria Police Force and government authorities to intensify efforts to secure her release.
Oremade and one of her staff members were said to have been kidnapped on Friday, August 14, after armed assailants allegedly ambushed their vehicle while returning from a farm. According to her son, Oremade Ilerioluwa, his mother had gone to the farm to create content for her business when the attack occurred.
Detailing the incident in a WhatsApp conversation, Ilerioluwa explained that four armed men suddenly appeared in front of their vehicle, prompting his mother to attempt a quick escape. “She tried to reverse when she noticed what was happening. As she was reversing, three more kidnappers emerged behind them and shot out the back tyres,” he recounted. With the vehicle immobilized in the bush, the occupants fled, but only two staff members managed to escape while Olayinka and another staff member were captured.
The family learned of the abduction through one of the workers who escaped, along with a surveyor present at the scene. The incident was reported to the police the next day at the Ajebo police station, where officers confirmed they had searched the area, found the abandoned vehicle, and questioned the two escaped staff members. However, the police were unable to locate the victims at that time.
The kidnappers reportedly contacted the family on Saturday night, initially demanding a ransom of N200 million, which they later reduced to N100 million after several days of negotiation. Ilerioluwa shared that he was able to speak with his mother during one of the calls, during which she urged him to seek help from relatives to raise funds for her release. Meanwhile, local hunters have joined the search efforts, but without success so far.
In a separate statement, Olayinka’s second son described the ordeal as devastating for the family. “Every day we wake hoping she will come back home, but there has been no action from the government. Every phone call fills us with dread, not knowing what news it will bring. We are worried about her safety, her well-being, and we are struggling to function,” he said.
He appealed to members of the public who may have information or influence to come forward to help secure his mother’s release. “She’s a wife, a mother, a friend, and means everything to us. Knowing she is out there in captivity is unbearable. We just want her back,” he pleaded.
The family reiterated their appeal to the police and the government, stressing their inability to pay the ransom and urging authorities to intensify rescue efforts. Multiple calls and messages to the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Babaseyi Oluseyi, seeking comment and updates on the investigation, had not received a response as of the time of this report.
