How we were kidnapped, Lagos Passengers Abducted in Ondo Recount Ordeal

Victims of the kidnap attack on the Idoani-Ifira Akoko road of Ondo state, who were later rescued by the southwest security network code-named Amotekun, have recounted their experience.

Nigerian Cable news online reported how Operatives of Amotekun in the state had on Wednesday rescued 9 of the 12 travellers.

The Corps later rescued the remaining three victims on Friday night at the forest around the axis.

Speaking with newsmen at Amotekun Headquarters in Akure, three of the rescued kidnapped victims, Mr Benjamin Ojoga,
Miss Omolara Fajana and Mrs Faith Sunday, confirmed that they were coming from Abuja and going to Lagos when the gunmen attacked their vehicle on the road and shot to the air before taking them to the forest.

Ojoga and Fajana noted that they trekked in the forest for more than three hours on Wednesday without eating and drinking water.

Fajana said:

“ It was on Monday, 6th of September, we were coming from Abuja and after leaving Ibilo around the bad portion ,our bus got stuck at that particular place and it took us like three hours before we were able to come out.”

“Shortly after there ,we got to Ifira Akoko and saw another bad portion, so the driver asked us to come down so that the bus will be lighter and we all alighted.”

“As the bus came out of that muddy part of the road, we heard gun shots and everyone scattered and running from one angle to the other.”

“Shortly after that we saw that the bus did not stop, he kept moving and that was how we were kidnapped.”

Ojoga said:

“ While we were being taken to the bush, they beat me and wounded me because they were saying I am a force man. They kept beating me that I should tell them the truth. They said I looked like a force man. ”

Addressing newsmen in Akure, the Commander of Amotekun corps in the state, Chief Adetunji Adeleye said the victims were rescued after his men gave the kidnappers hot chase for several hours.

Adeleye noted that they carried out the operations with the help of DSS and the Police to rescue the victims.

He explained that in the process to avoid casualties in the rescue operation, his men did not exchange gun fire with the criminals, noting that they restricted their operations to Ondo state boundary while the kidnappers escaped to a neighbouring state.