Victims rescued from a kidnapping incident along the Benin-Lagos Expressway in Ogun State have recounted their ordeal after armed assailants attacked travellers, abducted five passengers and demanded millions of naira in ransom.
According to The Nation, the victims were rescued within 24 hours during a joint police operation, codenamed KOSAYE, launched by the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu. Four suspected kidnappers were killed, while another escaped with gunshot wounds.
Farmer Jimoh Gbadamosi said the gunmen emerged from a forest near Ogbere, opened fire on vehicles, caused multiple crashes and forced five passengers from three vehicles into the bush. He said the kidnappers demanded ₦40 million from him and ₦30 million from a colleague.
Other victims, including student Amara Comfort Nsofor, widow Mercy Otu and Ogechi Onuorah, said they were threatened, deprived of food and water, and forced to negotiate ransoms ranging from ₦40 million to ₦50 million.
Gbadamosi said he continued praying throughout the ordeal using tayammum when water was unavailable. “We were begging them in the name of Allah, but they didn’t budge. All they were after was money,” he said.
