A wave of fear and heartbreak has swept through the family of 25-year-old Basheerah Ojedeyi, a newly inducted radiographer, after she was kidnapped by armed men on her way to begin her internship in Osun State.
Ojedeyi had only last week celebrated her induction into the radiography profession — a milestone that marked the start of a promising career. But on Monday, her journey from Sokoto to Osogbo was tragically cut short when her vehicle broke down at Mokwa in Niger State. Hours later, she vanished without a trace.
The following morning, her family’s fears were confirmed. The kidnappers contacted them, demanding an outrageous ₦200 million ransom for her release.
“They told us to find ₦200 million or they would kill her. We pleaded that it was impossible, but they refused to shift ground,” a family member revealed.
Relatives have since reported the incident to police authorities in both Sokoto and Niger States, though as at press time, the state commands had not provided any official confirmation.
The abduction has sparked outrage among medical professionals nationwide. In a statement issued Tuesday, the National President of the Association of Radiographers of Nigeria (ARN), Dr. Musa Dambele, described the crime as a cruel assault on healthcare workers.
“This barbaric act has turned a joyful moment into a nightmare. Basheerah, a young woman with so much potential, is now facing unimaginable danger. The ₦200 million ransom is not only outrageous, it is inhuman,” Dambele said.
He called on President Bola Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, the DSS, and other security agencies to act swiftly, stressing that “every second counts.” Dambele also appealed directly to the abductors to release Ojedeyi unconditionally.
The association urged Nigerians to rally in solidarity, spread awareness, and pray for her safe return, noting that the plight of healthcare professionals is becoming increasingly dire in the face of growing insecurity.
Unfortunately, Ojedeyi’s ordeal is part of a wider pattern. Earlier in February, a corps member serving in Ibadan, Oyo State, was kidnapped along the Benin-Ore Expressway and released after a ₦1 million ransom was paid. In September, gunmen also abducted three passengers of an 18-seater bus at Aku village along the Okene-Lokoja Expressway.
For Ojedeyi’s family, however, the crisis is personal and urgent. As they wait anxiously for her release, their joy at her professional breakthrough has been overshadowed by fear and uncertainty.