Two of the 16 victims rescued from kidnappers in Kogi State have recounted their harrowing experience in captivity, including threats of ransom demands, violence and possible sale to ritualists.
The victims, identified as Ngozi Stephen and Joshua Daniel, spent nearly 48 hours with their abductors before they were rescued during a joint security operation involving the Nigerian Army, Navy, police and local vigilantes.
The victims were abducted on Sunday when armed criminals reportedly attacked commuters along the Ojuwo–Ajengo–Memarebo and Ojiwo–Itobe roads in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
They were rescued on Monday along the Ajaokuta–Anyigba road in the Ofu area following the intervention of security operatives.
According to the military, one local hunter was killed during the rescue operation, while a police officer sustained injuries.
The rescued victims comprised six adult males, six adult females and four children. They were subsequently taken through documentation and medical assessment before being reunited with their families.
‘They Gave Us Different Ransom Amounts’
Speaking during an interview at the Kogi State Police Command headquarters after her release, Ngozi said the kidnappers forced her to serve as an interpreter because of her ability to speak Hausa fluently.
She explained that the abductors assigned different ransom demands to the victims and instructed her to communicate the amounts to them.
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“So they told me, tell this person N50 million, tell this person N100 million, tell this person N70 million. That was how they were sharing it,” she recalled.
Ngozi said the kidnappers also demanded N70 million from her and threatened her when she attempted to plead for a reduction.
“So I would tell them, okay, this is what they said, this is the amount they said you should bring.
“Even me, they said N70 million. So even when I tried to plead and ask them to reduce it a little, they threatened to beat me up because they were beating people and all that,” she said.
She said the kidnappers did not physically assault her, possibly because they needed her services as an interpreter.
However, the abductors confiscated the victims’ mobile phones and switched them off, only returning the devices when they wanted the victims to contact their relatives over ransom payments.
Ngozi said the kidnappers repeatedly threatened the victims, warning that those unable to raise the demanded money could be sold to ritualists.
“At some point, they were even threatening that if we were not able to provide the money, they would just sell us to ritualists and all that,” she said.
Gunshots Force Kidnappers to Flee
Ngozi said the situation changed when the abductors heard gunshots from approaching security operatives.
According to her, the kidnappers immediately fled, abandoning a bag containing phones and laptops they had seized from the victims.
“They were able to get back their phones. We were also able to get back the laptops. Thank God. We are now safe,” she said.
‘I Bled Throughout the Night’
For Daniel, the ordeal became even more traumatic after he was injured while attempting to escape from the kidnappers.
He said that shortly after their abduction, he noticed an opening and made a run into a nearby bush.
However, one of the kidnappers chased after him and attempted to attack him with a cutlass.
Daniel said he raised his hand to protect himself, but the weapon struck him and cut a vein.
“That is when the cutlass landed here and cut my vein. So, I was bleeding throughout the night,” he narrated.
He said the bleeding eventually stopped after he applied herbs to the wound.
“But the bleeding stopped this morning when I got some herbs and put them on the wound before the bleeding stopped,” he said.
Daniel disclosed that one of the kidnappers identified himself as Peter, adding that the abductors deliberately spoke different languages, including Igala, Fulani and Hausa, to prevent the victims from understanding their conversations.
Despite his injury, Daniel expressed gratitude to the security personnel who participated in the rescue operation.