The family of the Afenifere Youth Council President, Prince Eniola Ojajuni, raised at least N17 million to secure his release from kidnappers, a top family source revealed.
Ojajuni, who spent 12 harrowing days in captivity, was freed after the ransom was reportedly delivered by his wife to the abductors in Akure.
Despite repeated pleas, the Nigerian government did not provide financial assistance, and efforts by security agencies to track the kidnappers’ location yielded no results until the ransom was paid.
“We did not hear anything from the government despite repeated promises, and the police efforts did not yield results. We had no choice but to raise funds ourselves,” a family source told SaharaReporters.
Currently, Ojajuni is undergoing medical treatment at an undisclosed location for security reasons.
His abduction on Monday, February 17, 2025, while traveling to Abuja, had sparked outrage, with the Afenifere group condemning the worsening security situation and urging the Ondo and Kogi state governments to intervene swiftly.
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The Afenifere Youth Council’s National Secretary, Abiodun Aderonhunmu, had earlier disclosed that the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N100 million.
A voice recording obtained by SaharaReporters also captured a distressing phone call between Ojajuni’s family and the kidnappers, during which Ojajuni — who had been shot in the buttock — pleaded for his life. The abductors threatened to kill him within 48 hours if the ransom was not paid.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) had previously assured the public of their commitment to securing Ojajuni’s release.
The Police spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, cautioned against spreading unverified information that could jeopardize rescue efforts, while the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) deployed the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) to prioritize his rescue.
Ojajuni’s release brings some relief to his family and supporters, but the incident has reignited concerns about the escalating wave of kidnappings and the government’s slow response to ransom-driven crimes.
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