A family has raised alarm online following unverified reports claiming that Ayotunde Obatuyi was abducted late Wednesday near Kabba, Kogi State.
The claims originated from posts on X from an account purportedly belonging to his daughter, Funke Grace Obatuyi, who alleged that her father was kidnapped while returning to Abuja after attending her convocation ceremony at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA).
According to the posts, Obatuyi was travelling back from Akure when the incident reportedly occurred. The family also circulated an audio message said to be from the victim, in which a man’s voice pleads for assistance and provides bank details for financial support.
The message has since drawn significant attention from student groups, influencers, and online communities, many of whom have tagged security agencies and government officials in efforts to prompt action.
In one of the viral posts, the X user @Mkhay21 wrote:
“My dad was kidnapped on his way back to Abuja after my convocation. They are demanding a ransom of ₦10 million. I need your help with any support you can offer. My dad is being tortured right now; he has been tied up since yesterday. I heard his voice tonight, and he told me to act quickly. Please, we need help.”
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However, concerns have been raised over the authenticity of the incident, as no official confirmation has been issued by the Kogi State Police Command, and no credible mainstream media outlets have verified the kidnapping as of the time of filing this report.
The appeal has nonetheless reignited conversations about the persistent threats of highway kidnappings in Nigeria, especially along routes in Kogi, Niger, and the Federal Capital Territory.
The widespread public distrust in security agencies has further complicated matters, with many Nigerians expressing uncertainty over how to respond to such online distress calls, particularly in a digital space increasingly plagued by impersonation and scam alerts.
