Eleven farmers abducted by suspected kidnappers in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State have regained their freedom after escaping when their captors reportedly fell asleep.
According to The Punch, the victims were seized from their farms and forced to trek through the forest overnight. Speaking at the Edo State Police Command headquarters on Friday, one of the victims, Braimah Destiny, said he was returning home from his farm at about 6 p.m. when six armed men carrying guns and machetes abducted him. The attackers later captured 10 other people, bringing the total number of victims to 11.
Destiny said the kidnappers moved the group through several forest routes while police launched a search operation, during which the captives heard gunshots believed to have been fired by security operatives.
“They made us walk throughout the night. We got to a place and they told us to hide. They were very tired and they slept off. That was how we ran to the police. The kidnappers beat us and maltreated us,” he said.
The victims eventually escaped from the hideout and reached police officers safely.
