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Tension has enveloped the quiet community of Magboro in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, following the abduction of a 51-year-old man, Mr. Sunday Akiobu, and his 20-year-old daughter, Janet, by armed men, while on their way to church on April 20, 2025.

Family sources said that the incident was the latest in a string of alleged threats and harassment said to have been orchestrated by a group of some idol worshipers who have, for years, targeted the Akiobu family.

According to relatives, the conflict traces back to persistent demands by the group that the family’s first son, a former third-year student of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), participate in traditional rituals associated with their religion.

But the family, known for its firm Christian convictions, reportedly rejected the request ,a decision that allegedly provoked years of intimidation and threats.

The family further alleged that the harassment became so intense that their son was forced to abandon his studies and flee the country.

“They have been tormenting us for years. When our son refused to join them, the situation worsened,” a relative lamented.

Following Sunday’s abduction, the kidnappers allegedly contacted the family, demanding either the son’s return to partake in the traditional rites or a ransom of ₦90 million. The call, according to the family, came from a hidden number.

Mrs. Bukola Akiobu, wife of the abducted man, said amid tears that the family now lives in fear. “We don’t know what will happen to my husband and daughter. All we want is their safe return,” she said.

Residents of Magboro have expressed shock over the incident, calling on security agencies to act swiftly before the situation degenerates further. They described the incident as a worrying sign of how deep-seated religious tension is increasingly feeding into the wave of organised crime across the country.

As of press time, the Ogun State Police Command was yet to issue an official statement on the matter.