Family In Distress Following Abduction Of Ogun Journalist

The family of journalist and human rights activist, Oluwatosin Oshibanjo, has been thrown into a state of panic following his abduction from his home in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, on Tuesday. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance suggest that it may be linked to his involvement in a human rights case involving a lady and a pastor.

Oshibanjo’s mother, Tokunbo Bakre, recounted the events that led to his kidnapping in a phone interview on Wednesday. According to her, her son had intervened in a dispute between a young woman and a pastor, who was also reportedly a medical doctor. The woman had accused the pastor of impregnating her multiple times and forcing her to undergo several abortions. However, she resisted the last attempt to coerce her into terminating another pregnancy, which led to further conflict between her and the pastor. The woman eventually gave birth to a child, which she claimed was fathered by the pastor, although he denied responsibility.

Oshibanjo, in his capacity as a journalist and activist, published the details of the woman’s allegations and reached out to the pastor for his response. His efforts to bring the issue to light, however, may have resulted in retaliation. Bakre stated that her son was on a phone call with his wife when unknown men abducted him and took him to an undisclosed location.

“My son got involved in a case involving a lady and a pastor. The lady accused the pastor of impregnating her and forcing her to have abortions. She refused to abort the last pregnancy, which led to a conflict. My son published this on his platform, and now I’ve been informed that some men abducted him while he was talking to his wife on the phone. I believe it’s connected to the case,” Bakre explained.

Since the abduction, the family has been frantically searching for Oluwatosin, but all efforts to locate him have been unsuccessful. His mobile phone has been switched off, adding to the family’s anxiety. Bakre made an emotional plea for help from the authorities, expressing fear for her son’s safety.

“We are in a panic. We don’t know where he is, and his phone has been unreachable. We fear for his life and don’t know what these people might do to him. I am appealing to the authorities to help find and rescue my son,” she pleaded.

Attempts to obtain an official response from the Ogun State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, did not respond to calls or messages. However, a senior police officer who is familiar with the case confirmed the incident but declined to provide further details, stating, “Yes, I am aware of the incident. It was reported to the police, but I cannot speak further on it.”

Oshibanjo’s abduction has sparked widespread concern, particularly among those in the human rights and journalism community. His family remains in distress, hoping for a swift resolution and his safe return.