Gunmen who abducted passengers in a commercial bus last week in Ekiti State have released their victims in a forest in Ondo State.
It will be recalled that the kidnappers ambushed the bus on Sunday night at the Emure-Ekiti axis, abducting all passengers on board except two, who managed to escape during the ordeal.
The driver of the bus, Sunday Emmanuel, who narrated their ordeal to Saturday Tribune, explained that they were released after the payment of ransom.
Emmanuel recounted that the incident occurred very close to Emure-Ekiti, shortly after he left Eporo-Ekiti while returning from Onitsha to Ekiti State.
He revealed that he was released in the early hours of Christmas Day following a ransom payment of N1.5 million, while other passengers reportedly paid ransoms ranging from N1 million to N2 million.
Emmanuel stated that they were fed only garri mixed with red oil and water for several days by three heavily armed bandits, who appeared to be familiar with the local area.
Speaking on how they were kidnapped, the driver said:
“They kidnapped us in Emure-Ekiti. We had left Eporo and were entering Emure-Ekiti town when the incident occurred.
“It was five minutes after we left the military checkpoint that it happened. Even soldiers at the roadblock not far from where we were kidnapped cannot deny hearing the gunshots fired by the abductors.”
On how they were released, the victim said:
“They left us in Ago Paanu in the Owo area, Ikare Road of Ondo State. We don’t actually know the name of the place; it was the people who live there that came out to talk to us.
“We trekked through the bush from Emure-Ekiti to the place. We were made to trek during the nights, and once it was 5 a.m., we would stop to take a nap.
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“There were two women among us, including a female corps member, but they were not touched.
“The kidnappers told us they came from the Niger Republic. They know all those bushes because we were passing through areas where cattle are usually herded.
“They were just three men, but the machine guns and ammunition in their hands couldn’t be dared. They told us that such weapons could only be obtained from soldiers, and they had massive extra bullets.
“They didn’t eat with us, but we noticed that one of them would go out to town to get something. They usually mixed garri with red oil, and we would eat it.
“They took N1.5 million from me as ransom; others paid N1 million, N2 million, or N1.5 million.”
He emphasized that they were not subjected to torture, aside from the bruises sustained while being herded through the bush.
Emmanuel confirmed that all the passengers, including a woman and a female corps member, have also regained their freedom.
