Prince Eniola Ojajuni, the National President of the Afenifere Youth Council, has regained his freedom after spending 12 harrowing days in the hands of kidnappers. The youth leader was released on Saturday evening in Ibilo, Edo State, marking the end of a tense ordeal that gripped the nation and sparked widespread calls for his safe return.
Ojajuni confirmed his release in a brief video circulating online, where he appeared visibly relieved but exhausted. “I have been released,” he said while being driven in a car. “I was released in Ibilo, Edo State. I was released this evening.” The details surrounding his release—whether it was the result of a rescue operation or a ransom payment—remain unclear as of the time of this report.
The Afenifere Youth Leader was abducted on Monday, February 17, 2025, while traveling to Abuja for a meeting. His kidnappers, who shot him in the buttock during the attack, demanded a staggering N100 million ransom along with two tricycles for his release. A viral video that surfaced earlier in the week showed Ojajuni pleading for his life at gunpoint, with an AK-47 pointed at his chest, as he urged Nigerians to contribute funds to meet the kidnappers’ demands. The distressing footage galvanized public outcry and prompted swift action from authorities and civil society groups.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, responded to the crisis on Wednesday by ordering the deployment of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) to prioritize Ojajuni’s rescue. The Nigerian Police Force reiterated its commitment to his safe return, deploying significant resources to track down the abductors. However, it remains unconfirmed whether the IRT’s efforts directly led to his release or if other factors, such as negotiations, played a role.
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The Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organization Afenifere, along with various youth coalitions, had repeatedly called for urgent action from the governments of Ondo and Kogi States—near whose boundary the abduction occurred—as well as federal security agencies. The incident, which highlighted Nigeria’s worsening security challenges, drew condemnation from across the country, with many pointing to the rising tide of kidnappings under the current administration.
Ojajuni’s release has been met with widespread relief. Abiodun Aderohunmu, the National Secretary of the Afenifere Youth Council, expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their support during the ordeal, though he provided no further details on the circumstances of the release. “We are overjoyed that Prince Eniola Ojajuni is finally free,” Aderohunmu said in a statement. “We thank everyone who stood by us during this difficult time.”
As of now, Ojajuni is reportedly on his way to reunite with his family. His abduction and subsequent release underscore the persistent threat of kidnapping in Nigeria, raising fresh questions about the effectiveness of security measures in protecting citizens. Authorities have yet to release an official statement on the operation or the status of the kidnappers involved.
