The Ondo State Police Command has accused the president of the Afenifere Youth Council, Eniola Ojajuni, of ignoring multiple invitations for a debriefing after his alleged release from captivity.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Olushola Ayanlade, issued a statement on Tuesday denying Ojajuni’s recent allegation that the police failed to reach out to him after his return from what he claimed was a kidnapping ordeal.
Ayanlade said contrary to Ojajuni’s claims, the youth leader was neither abducted nor released in Ondo State, adding that efforts were made to work with other security agencies to ensure his safety “even in the face of numerous inconsistencies” in his story.
“These inconsistencies were directly contradicted by accounts provided by his wife and brothers, all of whom were contacted during the period of his supposed abduction,” Ayanlade stated.
He said Ojajuni failed to honour invitations for a formal debrief, which could have helped the investigation given the “unusual nature of the claims surrounding his case.”
“To be clear, the alleged abduction of Mr Eniola Ojajuni remains shrouded in mystery, marked by conflicting narratives and actions inconsistent with the known modus operandi of kidnapping syndicates in the state,” he added.
The police also questioned a video released by the alleged kidnappers during Ojajuni’s supposed captivity, describing it as inconsistent with known patterns of criminal groups operating in the area.
“Intelligence gathered from past kidnapping cases and confessions by arrested suspects indicate that many of these criminals do not even own smartphones, let alone record or disseminate footage of their victims,” Ayanlade said.
“This unusual detail raises further questions and could potentially compromise legitimate efforts to trace and apprehend actual criminals.”
He called on members of the public with credible information to assist the police, stressing that the Nigeria Police Force remains a professional institution determined to uphold justice.
“Security is a collective responsibility. We appeal to all residents of Ondo State to continue to support the police and other security agencies as we intensify our efforts to protect lives and property,” he said.
