How We’re Kidnapped, Released After N10m Ransom By Victim

•Narrates Ordeal In Kidnappers’ Den

ON Wednesday, January 11, two farmers were kidnapped at Okeosun area of Ileogbo, Ayedire Local Government of the State of Osun. One of the kidnaped vic ms, Samuel Olawale Oladotun narrated his ordeal to Kazeem Badmus a er he was released by the kidnappers.

How the kidnapping occurred

Oladotun, a 31-year-old farmer, said he and his brother, Fashola Tobilola, were coming from their farm at Atunni around noon when the kidnappers waylaid them. He said: “The farm we went to that day is Atunni farm. Our own farm is Gapson farm. I was leaving the farm with my younger brother, Tobi a er I finished everything I wanted to do that day. I was driving my car, suddenly, I heard gunshot from behind me. I thought the hunters were the one shoo ng, so I came down from the car. Immediately I came down, three men approached me from the back and started shoo ng sporadically. Another set also came through the front and they all surrounded us. That was how we were captured.

“We would have been three in the car but one of our staff who was with us that day did not follow us; he said he wanted to pick his motorcycle. That was how he escaped from being kidnapped.

Surviving The Six-Day Cap vity

Narra ng his ordeal in the kidnappers’ capvity, Oladotun stated that he and his brother spent seven days with their abductors before they were released a er collec ng ransom.

Oladotun, a graduate of Animal Science, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, said: “A er we were kidnapped, we trekked for about 45 minutes before we stopped to rest. A er res ng for some minutes, we trekked again for about two-three hours before we rest again, and it was dark. There was no water and food at the place we were kept. Tobi, my younger brother that was kidnapped with me was fas ng that day.

“When it got to a stage that we could no longer bear the thirsty, we asked the kidnappers if we could get water. One of the kidnappers beat us for asking for water. However, one of them who understand English language, gave us water.

“The following morning, we were given roasted cassava to eat. Around 6pm, we were also given roasted yam to eat.

“On Friday, a er calling our people to demand for ransom and the response they got was not favourable, we were not given anything to eat or drink. Later that night, I asked for water and they gave it to us with garri. Surviving there was not easy at all. The kidnappers were seven in numbers and the water with them was just 5 litres. It meant that the nine of us had to share that water.

“We were not given anything to eat or drink throughout Saturday. On Sunday morning, when we could not bear the suffering again, we asked for water. At first, the kidnappers didn’t answer us but later, they came with a water inside a small plas c container. We were later given garri and li le bread in the evening.

“We didn’t eat anything on Monday ll evening when we were given garri. On the day we were released (Tuesday), they only gave us water and the cold there was terrible.”

Dissec ng The Loca on Of The Cap vity

Ask if he knows the loca on (s) where they were kept, Oladotun said: “I can’t say exactly where the loca on was because we always move at night. But everything – the movement is within the axis of our farm (Moomu, Ileogbo, along Kuta to Ede road, Ikoyi). We were just moving from one loca on to another and majorly the kidnappers hid under the bush. It is not as if the kidnappers walk through peoples’ farms, no. They walk majorly under thick shield inside the bush.

“We were hearing voices at the first place they took us to. There was a day we heard a bike moving around the place. Also, the last place the kidnappers took us to was very close to the main road because we do here movement of vehicles.

“Those bringing them food and water are part of the gang and they were Fulanis. They were armed with cutlass and s ck.

I observe that the kidnappers had collaborators around that place who were Fulani like themselves. Why I said so is that while trekking inside the forest, we did not sight any cow, not come across any herder.

The Last Day With The Kidnappers

On the sixth day with the kidnappers which was the day we were released, they told me that the people who went to pay ransom had been held hostage. They threatened to kill all of us if our family didn’t provide the money they requested for. I begged them to pity us and the one that understand Yoruba among them translated what I was saying to the others in Hausa.

“Later, the kidnappers said if they released me, would I go home and bring the remaining money? I told them I did not know what was going on at home, so I could not promise them. They told me to go back to where we were kept.

“Around 8pm, they came to call us and what I no ced that me was that some of them were not present again. Only two of the kidnappers remained. They asked us to follow them; when we got to a point, we saw a hunter coming and they hid themselves. Later, they gave Tobi his cloth and they asked us to start running.

“We trekked for almost four hours un l we got to a village called Ikoyi.”

The Ransom

The total amount the kidnappers collected was N10m. The first batch was N6m and they later collected another N4m.

Kidnapping And Nigeria Security System

While in kidnappers’ den, I asked myself: “how on earth do these people get weapons”? They carry all these weapons on bike and security opera ves would not challenge them. It shows that there is lack of security in this country. We are not safe at all. It is not about the police alone but the government. There are some policies that are not working in this country.

“Amotekun and hunters cannot go to the bush without the permission of the police. Police will also tell you they cannot go into the bush. All this means that even the government do not care about the ci zens. If you see the kidnappers, they don’t look like someone who can afford N50,000. It seems they have leaders whom they answer and deliver the money collected as ransom to.

“It seems the government has hand in this kidnapping. That is our conclusion as vic ms, because it is not as if they cannot capture these guys (kidnappers). They were communica ng and I think they can track them through that.

Going Back To The Farm?

Asked if he would go back to the farm, Olatunde said: “For now, I can’t go back to the farm. We may get another person who will be managing our workers and I will get an android phone, so that I will be doing video call with them. Maybe I will be going once in a while but going there on a daily basis for now is not on my agenda. I have always been going regularly apart from Sundays.”