Edo: 11 kidnapped victims escape as abductors ‘fell asleep’

Eleven kidnapped victims have escaped from their abductors after the suspects allegedly fell asleep as a result of overnight trek through the forest in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

The kidnapped victims made this known when they addressed a news conference in Benin, the Edo State capital.

One of the victims,  Destiny Braimah, said he was returning from his farm when he was intercepted by six armed men wielding guns and cutlasses.

Braimah said the gunmen abducted him alongside 10 others before forcing them deeper into the forest.

He said the victims heard gunshots, believed to have been fired by police officers, while they were being marched through the bush.

He said: “I was coming from the farm when I met six of them armed with guns and cutlasses. 

“They also captured others, making us 11 victims. 

“They took us from one bush to another. 

“At about 6pm, we heard police shooting. 

“They made us walk throughout the night.

“When we got to a place, they told us to hide. 

“They were very tired, so they fell asleep.

“That was how we escaped. 

“We ran to the police station and met the police. 

“The kidnappers beat us and maltreated us.”

Another victim, Gloria IInyanugbo, said she recognised some of her abductors after their arrest.

Ilnyanugbo said she spent four days in captivity before her husband paid N3 million to secure her release.

She said: “I was kidnapped on January 12 while working on the farm. 

“They asked how much I had in my account after taking me into the bush. 

“I spent four days there until my husband raised N3 million and another N300,000 to buy hard drugs, food, and other items.

“The community vigilante arrested two of them in the bush while the police tracked and arrested others. 

“I saw one of them who kept boasting that nobody could do anything to him. 

“I never imagined the police would eventually arrest them.”