In South-West alone, there are over 55 kidnapping camps – Freed Afenifere Youth Leader

Eniola Ojajuni, the recently freed National Youth President of Afenifere, has revealed that his abductors have set up at least 55 camps across the South-West, strategically positioned to aid their criminal activities.

In a statement on Sunday, Ojajuni, who was held captive for 12 days, disclosed that most of these camps are in Ondo State, followed by Ekiti, Osun, and Ogun states.

He urged the government to conduct thorough security operations across forests in Edo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Ibilo, and Lagos states to flush out the criminals.

Speaking about his ordeal, the Afenifere youth leader recounted how the kidnappers openly discussed plans to intensify abductions in Ondo and Lagos states.

“The criminals have established well-organised kidnapping camps across South-West Nigeria, strategically positioned for their operations: Ondo State – 27 camps; Ekiti State – 16 camps; Osun State – seven camps; Ogun State – five camps,” he stated.

“During my captivity, the kidnappers boasted of their plans to escalate abductions in Ondo and Lagos states, citing their hidden camps in these regions. They also revealed details of their operations along the Sagamu–Ijebu Ode Road, near Oso-Sa Ijebu, weeks before my abduction.”

Ojajuni specifically urged the Ondo State government to act swiftly in dismantling these criminal networks, criticizing the lack of urgency in addressing the crisis.

“The Ondo State government, in particular, has been criticised for its slow response to this threat,” he said. “The growing audacity of these criminals must not go unchecked. Immediate action is needed to restore security and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

He pledged to provide intelligence gathered during his time in captivity to assist security agencies in tracking down the kidnappers. He also called for increased security checkpoints along highways and forest borders to curb the rising wave of criminal activities.

“The Nigerian government must act swiftly and decisively to combat this crisis by deploying additional security personnel to high-risk areas, establishing more security checkpoints along highways and forest borders, enhancing intelligence-gathering and surveillance operations, and identifying and prosecuting collaborators aiding these criminals,” he urged.

Ojajuni commended the Inspector General of Police for initiating an intelligence-driven rescue operation and acknowledged the swift intervention of the Nigeria Forest Team. However, he stressed that more work needs to be done.

“This intelligence should serve as a wake-up call to all security agencies and state governments in the South-West. If urgent measures are not taken, more innocent lives will be at risk,” he warned.

Ojajuni was abducted on February 17, 2025, while traveling from Ondo State to Abuja, sparking widespread outrage. During his captivity, the kidnappers released distressing videos and images, demanding a ransom of N100 million for his release.

Following public outcry, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, deployed officers from the Intelligence Response Team, leading to Ojajuni’s eventual freedom.