A UK-based agricultural researcher, Dr Ayodeji Afolami, has recounted how his abduction by armed men in Ogun State in 2021 disrupted his academic career in Nigeria and prompted him to relocate abroad.

Afolami said he was kidnapped on August 4, 2021, while working on his farm in Ibara Orile, Abeokuta, by five armed men dressed in camouflage who emerged from a nearby bush.

According to him, the kidnappers forced him into the forest, where they held him captive for three days after an approximately eight-hour journey. During the ordeal, he was physically assaulted and subjected to psychological pressure, while his abductors demanded a ransom of ₦30 million.

He said the uncertainty surrounding his fate and the fear of never seeing his family again overshadowed every other concern during his captivity.

Afolami regained his freedom on the third night after his family and friends negotiated with the kidnappers and delivered the ransom. He was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the ordeal.

The researcher explained that although his physical release brought relief, the psychological consequences continued long after the incident.

He said the experience affected his confidence, sense of security and ability to resume everyday activities, including farming and academic work. He also received therapy in Lagos to help him process the trauma.

Before his abduction, Afolami had enrolled for a PhD in Crop Production at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, in 2019 and had completed his first year.

However, the persistent fear and difficulty adjusting to life after the incident eventually influenced his decision to leave Nigeria, despite the academic and agricultural investments he had already made.

He subsequently continued his education at the Royal Agricultural University in the United Kingdom, where he earned a PhD in Sustainable Agriculture and Crop Production.

His doctoral research examined soybean production under northern temperate conditions, including the performance of different varieties, seed rates, nitrogen management and biological nitrogen fixation.

Afolami said continuing his academic pursuit became part of rebuilding his life, although adapting to a new country while dealing with the effects of the kidnapping presented additional challenges.

Reflecting on his achievement, he described completing the doctorate as more than an academic qualification, saying it represented survival, perseverance and the opportunity to rebuild after a traumatic experience.

He added that the incident taught him not to take life, family and opportunities for granted, noting that psychological recovery could continue long after a victim had been physically released.