An entrepreneur and farm manager, Omogbolahan Emmanuel Olaniyi, has narrated his 42-day ordeal in captivity after being abducted by kidnappers who allegedly collected ₦17 million from his family but refused to release him.
Olaniyi said he eventually escaped alongside other victims after weeks in detention, despite the ransom payment.
His account comes months after SaharaReporters reported on November 12, 2025, that kidnappers were still holding Omogbolahan despite collecting a ₦15 million ransom and had issued death threats, as his family pleaded for government intervention.
At the time, the report detailed how the abductors continued to detain him despite receiving the ransom payments and allegedly threatened to kill him.
Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Olaniyi broke his silence, recounting how he was abducted on October 23, 2025, while working at a remote farm where he serves as a manager.
According to him, the incident occurred in Ekiti State, close to the Kogi State boundary, an area increasingly plagued by insecurity and reports of armed banditry.
Olaniyi revealed that he was held captive in the “wilderness” for 42 days under what he described as physically and emotionally devastating conditions. During his captivity, his abductors demanded a ransom, which his family struggled to raise.
He stated that the kidnappers eventually received a total of ₦17 million. However, contrary to expectations, the payment did not secure his freedom.
Instead, he remained in captivity even after the ransom had been delivered. It was only through a risky escape attempt, carried out with other captives, that he regained his freedom.
“I was kidnapped last Oct 23 at a farm were (sic) 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 (sic) still in serious debt,” he wrote.
“Nigeria isn’t a country.”
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Olaniyi remains in captivity, while one of his colleagues, Kazeem, was killed following their abduction by suspected herdsmen in Ekiti State.
Family sources told SaharaReporters that the two men were kidnapped on October 23, 2025, at the farm where they work in Oke-Ako town.
The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of ₦15 million, along with food, drinks, recharge cards, and a mobile phone. The ransom was reportedly paid on October 30 at Egbe in Kogi State, with the expectation that Olaniyi would be released.
The situation escalated further when the kidnappers contacted the family again. Instead of negotiating his release, they issued a fresh ultimatum: pay ₦55 million within 24 hours, or Olaniyi would be executed.
One of the family sources said, “My brother Omogbolahan Emmanuel Olaniyi and one other staff member was kidnapped on the 23rd of October 2025 by suspected Fulani herdsmen where he works at Ekiti State farm (Oke Ako town).
“The kidnappers demanded a ransom of N15 million and other items such as food, drinks, recharge cards and a cell phone, which were given to them on October 30.”
In a phone call obtained by SaharaReporters, the abductors threatened the victim and issued an ultimatum, demanding payment or they would inflict harm.
In a distressing video also obtained by SaharaReporters, the victim’s mother was seen crying and pleading for her son’s life.
“Please, don’t kill him. We are coming. Please stop beating him. For God’s sake, where should we come? Don’t beat the boy. He’s only working for his boss. He just had an accident,” she said.See_More…