Ransom – A Nigerian man known on social media as @GbolahanOl75923
has shared a detailed account of his abduction and prolonged ordeal in Ekiti State.
The individual, who worked as a farm manager, was taken on October 23, 2025, at a farm located near the boundary between Ekiti and Kogi states.
He spent 42 days in a remote wilderness area under the control of his captors. His family gathered and delivered a total of N17 million in ransom payments.
Despite the transaction, the kidnappers did not free him immediately. He eventually escaped together with other hostages following an internal conflict among the abductors.
The man noted that the ransom has left his family deeply indebted and struggling financially.
He voiced strong frustration regarding the country’s security challenges.
The account emerged in response to online discussions about the kidnapping of a corps member.
Activist @Wizarab10 highlighted a previous case from January 2025 involving a female corps member abducted in Rivers State while traveling to camp from Ibadan.
Funds were raised through public contributions to secure her release, after which she reunited with her family.
The activist contrasted this with a more recent incident in which another corps member was reportedly being assaulted by bandits, questioning the level of public and governmental response.
The farm manager stated that he was kidnapped on October 23 at the farm where he worked as manager in Ekiti State near the Kogi State boundary.
He added that he remained in the wilderness for 42 days even after the payment of N17 million ransom and was only freed after escaping with some other men.
He noted that Nigeria is not functioning as a proper country.
Several comparable incidents occurred across Nigeria in 2025 and early 2026, where victims or their families paid ransoms leading to release or escape
In early March 2025,Rofiat Lawal (NYSC Corps Member) was abducted while traveling along the Benin-Ore Expressway toward her place of primary assignment in Oyo State.
Kidnappers initially demanded N20 million, later reduced to N5 million after negotiations. Her family and friends raised and paid N1.1 million, after which she was released unharmed.
On April 18, 2025, Odey Mathias and 23 other passengers were seized by armed groups while traveling by boat on the Oron/Uyo waterways en route to Calabar, Cross River State.
He endured 50 days in captivity due to delayed payments. His family first paid over N3 million, which proved insufficient, before delivering an additional N8 million.
He was released following the final payment, while other victims whose families paid promptly were freed earlier.
On March 23, 2025, Rev. Fr. John Ubaechu (Catholic Priest ) was kidnapped while driving along Ejemekwuru road in Izombe, Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.
Abductors demanded N20 million. He regained freedom after three days on March 26, 2025, following payment arranged by the church or his family.
On February 2, 2026, four members of the same family were abducted at Eko-Abeku-Iyowa community in Edo State. After direct negotiations, a total ransom of N15 million was paid by relatives, leading to their safe release.
In late 2025, Ismail Sahabi was kidnapped while traveling on the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway. His family paid a reported N100 million ransom to secure his freedom. He was released after the payment and has since spoken publicly about the incident.
These cases reflect the persistent pattern of kidnap-for-ransom incidents targeting individuals in transit, workplaces, and religious roles across different regions of the country.
@Wizarab10 said: “January last year, we raised money to free a corper that was kidnapped in Rivers State on her way to camp from Ibadan. She was released and has been with her family since. Some Twitter people were mad at me send warned me not to do it again that it would encourage more kidnap.
“Another corper has been kidnapped by bandits and neither government nor private individuals are doing anything. They are flogging him within an inch of his life. Is losing his life more important than securing his release abi we have become so desensitized.”
@GbolahanOl75923 shared: “I was kidnapped last Oct 23 at a farm were I work as a farm manager in Ekiti state close to Kogi State boundary, I was in the wilderness for 42 days after paying of 17m, I wasn’t released until I escaped with some other men.we’re still in serious debt Nigeria isn’t a country”
