N10m Ransom Sought for Two Farmers Abducted in Ondo

Two farmers have been taken captive by armed individuals within the Oke-Ifira/Idogun forest area, situated in the Akoko South-East Local Government Area of Ondo State. A relative of the victims confirmed the incident during a telephone conversation with Daily Trust on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, stating that the abduction took place on Saturday in the aforementioned locality.

According to the family member, the incident has been formally reported to both the Nigeria Police Force and the Ondo State Security Network Agency, commonly known as Amotekun. DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, verified the occurrence. He noted that the police had indeed received a report concerning the missing individuals, but emphasized that any claims regarding a ransom demand had yet to be substantiated.

Jimoh further detailed that a joint security task force has been deployed to the forest to intensify search and rescue operations. This team comprises personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters, Agbekoya operatives, and community volunteers. He added that the command has mobilized its operational and intelligence assets with the aim of locating the abductees and apprehending those responsible for their disappearance.

However, the Police Public Relations Officer reiterated that the command has no knowledge of any ransom demand connected to this particular incident. He urged residents who possess credible information that could assist the rescue efforts to promptly share such intelligence with the relevant security agencies.