By Abdulahmeed Abdulrozaq Bilal | Fact Frontier.
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Tension has gripped the agrarian community of Ijebu Jesa in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State.
Armed men have abducted a 26-year-old Fulani herdsman, Yahaya Sulaiman.
The kidnappers are demanding a ₦70 million ransom for his release.
The incident occurred at about 9:00 p.m. on Monday, May 4, 2026 along the Iloko/Ijebu Jesa Road.
According to eyewitness accounts, the gun-wielding assailants ambushed Sulaiman as he was tending to his cattle.
They whisked him away to an unknown destination before any resistance could be mounted.
What has deepened fear in the community is the calculated nature of the attack.
Sources close to the victim’s family disclosed that the kidnappers called out Sulaiman by name before seizing him.
This is a clear indication that the operation was premeditated and that the herder was specifically targeted.
“They didn’t just grab anyone; they asked for him directly. It shows they had been monitoring his movements,” a resident who pleaded anonymity told journalists.
In the hours following the abduction, the kidnappers established contact with the victim’s family.
They made their financial demand clear: a ₦70 million ransom must be paid to secure Sulaiman’s freedom.
The exorbitant demand has thrown the family into deep distress, as they are not known to possess such wealth.
Negotiations remain ongoing and the family has appealed to both the state government and security agencies to intervene and ensure the safe return of their loved one.
The Osun State Police Command has confirmed the incident.
It assured the public that efforts are underway to rescue the victim and apprehend the perpetrators.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Yemisi Opalola, stated that the Command had deployed tactical teams to the area.
The teams are combing the surrounding forests and gathering actionable intelligence.
“We are aware of the abduction and are working closely with local vigilantes and community leaders to ensure the victim is released unharmed,” the police spokesperson said.
“We urge anyone with useful information to come forward.”
The abduction adds to a growing list of security challenges in the state.
This is particularly true in communities along the Osun-Ekiti boundary, where the terrain provides cover for criminal elements.
Farmers and herders in Ijebu Jesa have expressed growing anxiety.
They are calling on the government to strengthen security patrols in rural areas.
Community leaders have also weighed in, cautioning against any attempt to ethnicise the crime.
The Elejesa of Ijebu Jesa, Oba (Dr.) Moses Oluwafemi Agunsoye, appealed for calmness.
He noted that criminality has no tribal colouration.
“This is not a Fulani versus Yoruba issue; it is a criminal act that must be treated as such. We are working with security agencies to ensure Yahaya returns home safely,” the monarch said.
As the 72-hour mark approaches, there is a palpable sense of urgency.
The victim’s family, aided by community members, continues to pray and hope for his quick release.
The police say they are exploring all avenues, including technological tracking, to break the kidnappers’ network.
The abduction of Yahaya Sulaiman serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by kidnap-for-ransom syndicates in Nigeria’s southwestern hinterlands.
Residents are now calling for a permanent security presence to prevent a recurrence.
