Group demands rescue of 72-year-old poultry association president abducted in Kogi

The Yagba Action Group (YAG), a non-profit organisation in Kogi, has condemned the state government’s inaction following the abduction of Ajayi Bello, a prominent livestock farmer, nearly two weeks ago.

In a statement issued on Monday, Tunde Olusunle, YAG chairman, said 72-year-old Bello, who is the chairman of the Kogi state Poultry Association and the Poultry Association of Nigeria, was abducted from his farm in Ponyan, Yagba east LGA.

Olusunle, an adjunct professor of creative writing at the University of Abuja, criticised the failure of the state and federal authorities to provide adequate security for Nigerians, especially those in rural areas who depend on farming for their livelihoods.

He called for a swift response from security agencies and the governments to ensure the immediate rescue of the abducted farmer.

According to Olusunle, Bello established a modern livestock business in his hometown after retiring from Guinness Nigeria about a decade ago, adding that he employed 200 workers.

He highlighted Bello’s health vulnerabilities, including diabetes and prostate issues, calling his prolonged captivity “wicked”, and urged Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, to intervene.

He warned that the government inaction undermines public confidence and leaves rural communities vulnerable to banditry and kidnapping.

The university don also criticised the absence of official statements from the Kogi state commissioner for agriculture, the minister of agriculture, and relevant farmers’ associations on the abduction of Bello.

Olusunle also raised concerns over what he called a “systematic and well-organised plan” by Fulani herders, allegedly funded by unknown agents, to displace Yagba and Okun communities and seize their lands.

Meanwhile, Dayo Thomas, a journalist and farmer, has also described Bello’s abduction as a national concern with serious implications for Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

Thomas urged the federal and state governments to prioritise security in rural areas to protect farmers and ensure food security.

“Farmers are the backbone of our economy. The government must rethink security strategies to protect them and their crops. The kidnapping of Chief Ajayi Bello is a wake-up call for all stakeholders to demand urgent action,” he said.