The Food and Farmers’ Rights Campaigns (FFRC) has welcomed the arrest of Abdullai Muhammadu, a 67-year-old Seriki Fulani and leader of the Fulani community in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, along with his son, Bello Muhammadu, over their alleged connection to a series of kidnapping incidents that have terrorised communities across the Ijebu axis of the state.
In a statement issued on June 1, 2026, and signed by its National Coordinator, Eko John Nicholas, the group commended the Ogun State Police Command, particularly the anti-kidnapping unit led by SP Bamidele Shittu, for carrying out the arrests. However, FFRC called for the immediate arrest of other suspects still at large, including Bala Muhammadu and any individuals who may have been involved in the wave of abductions across the region.
The organization also demanded a thorough investigation and impartial prosecution of all suspects linked to the kidnappings, stressing that justice must be served for victims and their families.
According to FFRC, the arrests, though welcomed, came after months of devastating attacks that left residents living in fear and forced many victims to pay huge sums in ransom to secure their freedom. The group cited the February 9, 2026 abduction of farmer Adams Omamegbe and four others, including a nursing mother, from Alayo Fish Farm Cluster in Odogbolu Local Government Area. The victims were reportedly released only after kidnappers collected a ransom of ₦70 million.
The campaign group noted that since then, several communities across the Ijebu axis—including Oke Eri, Imope, Itele, Imagbon, and Iworo—have experienced a surge in kidnapping incidents. It also referenced a recent attack at Ipodo Golden Estate in Oke Eri, where heavily armed gunmen reportedly invaded the community, injured a woman, and abducted three family members who were later released after ransom payments.
FFRC argued that the growing insecurity in Ogun State exposes the failure of government authorities to adequately protect residents. The group accused Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration of not doing enough to address worsening security challenges, claiming that political calculations ahead of future elections appear to be receiving more attention than the safety of citizens.
The organization called on the Ogun State Government to launch an extensive public works programme, improve security infrastructure in schools and vulnerable communities, recruit more educational personnel, and install surveillance systems to enhance safety. It also urged authorities to deploy well-equipped security personnel with modern surveillance and intelligence-gathering technology to flush out criminal gangs operating in forests and remote communities.
In addition, FFRC encouraged communities to organize democratically run, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious vigilance structures to support efforts aimed at protecting lives and property. The group maintained that addressing insecurity also requires tackling poverty, unemployment, and the rising cost of living, which it said contribute to growing crime rates across the country.
The campaign reiterated its demand for the arrest of all remaining suspects linked to the kidnappings and called for fair and transparent judicial proceedings to ensure accountability and justice.
