The abducted corps members from Ondo State, released on Monday, disclosed that each family paid N1 million to secure their release. The five victims, including four corps members and an artisan, were kidnapped by bandits at around 11 pm last Thursday in Omi Alafa Village, Ifon, Ose Local Government Area, and taken into the forest.
They were returning home after completing the three-week National Youth Service Corps Orientation camp in Enugu and Abia States. During the abduction, the driver and a passenger sitting in the front were shot dead.
One of the corps members, Patience Andrew, recounted their ordeal, describing it as horrific and brutal. She mentioned that the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N30 million per person but eventually agreed to N1 million after negotiations.
The captives were subjected to severe beatings and were given only garri and dirty water to eat once a day.
Andrew explained that they boarded a bus from Abia State to Onitsha, and later took another bus to Akure. They reached Ondo State around 10 pm, and shortly after, the kidnappers attacked.
The driver and a woman sitting next to him were shot, and another passenger was severely injured but managed to escape. The captives were then forced to trek through the bush from around 10 pm until 7 am the next day.
The kidnappers, who spoke Hausa/Fulani and had an interpreter, tortured them throughout their captivity.
In addition to the ransom, the kidnappers demanded items such as three packs of Hollandia yogurt, two loaves of bread, one carton of Peak milk, one pack of malt, bottles of Fearless drink, one pack of cigarettes, and 10 packs of cooked rice and chicken.
The Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami, stated that the victims were found abandoned by their assailants due to police pressure.
Policemen from the tactical squad, led by the Area Commander of Owo, ACP Olufemi Awoyale, continuously combed the bush, which forced the kidnappers to leave the victims behind.
The police then rescued the victims, took them to the Police Medical Services in Owo for brief treatment, and subsequently reunited them with their families.
