Family cries out as kidnapped Ondo farmer’s captors demand N100m for release

The family of a farmer from Ondo State, Joseph Kayode, has appealed for assistance after kidnappers abducted him and demanded a N100 million ransom for his release.

Mr. Kayode, described by acquaintances as a popular farmer and an outspoken supporter of President Bola Tinubu on Facebook, was abducted on Monday while working on his farm.

According to family members, the kidnappers contacted them and are demanding the substantial sum for his freedom.

Mr. Kayode had on February 15, 2026, publicly reaffirmed his loyalty to the president in a Facebook post, writing: “I am 100% committed to the reelection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.”

Kidnapping for ransom has become increasingly common in several parts of Nigeria, with farmers and rural residents among the most vulnerable targets due to the remote nature of their work locations.

The incident occurred around 10am on Monday at a poultry farm located along Kajola Road in the Kajola area of Ilu-Abo, a community situated less than five kilometres from the Akure Airport in Akure North Local Government Area.

According to sources familiar with the incident, the victims were attacked and kidnapped while working at the farm. The abduction reportedly triggered panic across Ilu-Abo and neighbouring communities, forcing some schools in the area to shut down temporarily as residents feared further attacks.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, Abayomi Jimoh, said in a statement on Monday that the Secretary of Okeluju Local Council Development Area in Akoko North-West Local Government Area, Joseph Aladesuyi, and two others, identified as Joseph Kayode and Easter Akinlolu, were abducted by armed men who stormed the farm earlier in the day.

According to Mr. Jimoh, preliminary investigations indicated that the attackers, who were masked, invaded the poultry farm after emerging from a nearby bush.

“The victims were abducted on Monday morning at a poultry farm along Kajola Road, Ilu-Abo, in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State,” Mr. Jimoh said.

He explained that the assailants created panic in the area by firing several gunshots into the air before whisking the victims away to an unknown destination.

“The gunmen reportedly fired sporadically into the air before whisking the victims away to an unknown destination,” he added.