Ololade Adeyanju/
One of the 13 victims abducted by suspected Fulani gunmen, on September 3, along the Owo/Benin Highway, while returning from a burial ceremony in Edo State, has recounted his five-day ordeal in the den of kidnappers.
According to the Akure-based legal practitioner, Tayo Olofinbinu, the abductors, who spoke Fulani and brandished standard AK-47 rifles, treated majority of them in a very brutal manner.
He said out of the 15 persons abducted from the 32-seater Coaster bus they were in, two managed to escape, while the rest of them were marched into the bush.
The victim, who is still recuperating at home after being discharged from the hospital, told NewsmakersNG how one of them who attempted to escape with his wife was shot dead.
He said the kidnappers inflicted a deep machete cut on the head of another male abductee, who they felt was uncooperative. He expressed fear that the victim might not eventually survive the injury, as he was nearly dead by the time he was released.
The victim also disclosed that they were only allowed to contact their relations on the third day and was only given bread and soft drinks to take on the fourth day after their abduction.
His words, “I was fortunate not to have been touched throughout my time in captivity. But they (kidnappers) treated most of us badly. They were hitting some us repeatedly with their machetes and even inflicted a deep cut on the head of one of us. The man was already extremely pale by the time he was released on the fourth day. I doubt he would survive the injury.
“There was another man who tried to escape with his wife one night, thinking that the kidnappers had slept. But the wife’s movement must have alerted them (kidnappers). They shot the man dead instantly.”
He said he was released unhurt on the fifth day after he completed the payment of his ransom, adding that he was also able to contribute to the payment of the ransom of a few of his fellow abductees.
He disclosed that he was slightly familiar with only one other abductee, who live in his neighbourhood, while the rest were not known to him prior to their abduction.
Recalling how they fell into the hands of the kidnappers, he stated, “We travelled in a convoy with police escort while going. But we couldn’t wait for the convoy on our return journey in our bid to avoid travelling at night, only for us to be waylaid by gunmen around Ifon in Ondo State at about 5.20pm.”
He added that his only regret was not travelling in his private car as he had initially planned to. He said he changed his mind because he assumed travelling with others would offer better security.
Also, in what appeared to be a vindication of the Methodist Church Prelate, His Eminence Samuel Uche’s claim that Fulani gunmen have taken over all the forests in the southern part of the country, the victim said he was amazed by ease with which their abductors navigated the forest. He added that he would not be surprised to learn that they (kidnappers) had created several routes to some neighbouring countries through the Nigerian forests.
He also admitted that he used to think the media exaggerated reports of kidnappings in the country until his own traumatic experience, while thanking God for coming out of it alive.
While reacting to incident on September 6, the Ondo State Government had given assurances that the abductors would be rescued.
Addressing Government House reporters, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, had vowed that Ondo State would never be a haven for criminals, robbers and bandits.
She stressed that the scene of the incident was a known dark spot for criminals, noting that the spot became convenient because it allowed the kidnappers to strike and run back to Edo State.
She also stated, “Just before dusk on Saturday, coming from a burial, some of our people were abducted. They went for a burial at Ewato town in Esan Local Government of Edo State.
“One of the buses, a 32-seater Coastal Bus hired from Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, was attacked by suspected kidnappers. The vehicle was ransacked, the people were searched, they were dispossessed of their valuables as the assailants shot into the air, scaring them.
“They selected 18 of the passengers and marched them into the bush. Some of those that were left behind immediately put a call to the Amotekun Corps, the Amotekun patrol men got to the scene within 15 minutes and pursued the kidnappers.
“Among those who scampered into the bush, the Amotekun people went inside the bushes and beckoned on them to come out, seven of them were found.
“Of the eleven that were kidnapped, while they were marching them into the bush, two of them escaped. Right now as we speak, Amotekun is working with the Police, the DSS and the Nigerian Army.
“Today, the kidnappers have made contact with families of victims and they are demanding ransom of between N3 million to N10 million. Investigation into this abduction continues.”
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