Our abductors collected N2.2m ransom, rice, cigarettes — Ondo kidnap victims

Five workers kidnapped by gunmen along Ogbagi-Ikare road, in Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo state by gunmen four days ago have regained their freedom after parting away with the sum of N2.2 million as ransom.

The victims, who are staff of an electricity firm working on a Federal Government power project in Ikare-Akoko include Sedu Jimoh (62) Onminyi Oloche (34), a staff driver and food vendor whose names were not revealed, said they were starved for four days.

According to the victims, the kidnappers also collected cooked rice, meat, packets of cigarettes, packs of energy drinks, recharge cards, among other items before they were released.

The victims described their abductors as heartless, saying they were subjected to various forms of torture during the four days they spent in the kidnappers den.

Speaking on behalf of the victims, Jimoh, who is the site supervisor, said the daredevil men whisked them away while working on Friday evening and made them walk several miles for many hours, torturing them at intervals.

Jimoh said “our abductors are Fulanis and they usually pretend as if they are rearing cows whenever they hear strange voice. They understand the area better than us.

“They usually tie our hands every night before we sleep. Initially they demanded for N50m but eventually we paid N2.2m as ransom before they could release us.

“They also collected cooked rice, packet cigarettes, two cartoons of Fearless and  meats and other things. The other two victims  are in the hospital because they were seriously  tortured by the kidnappers.”

“They also collected a pack of cigarettes, a pack of milk, bread, and a recharge card before they let us go.

“You can see the level these criminals are now operating in our state and they have the audacity to demand not only food items and other materials but cooked food.  Only God can save us here”

The State Police Public Relations Officer  (PPRO), Funmi Odunlami, could not confirm the abduction of the four men when contacted, saying the incident was not reported at the station while a relative of the victims also confirmed that they did not report the abduction of the four victims.

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