By Deborah Nnamdi
Eleven persons abducted by suspected kidnappers in Estako West Local Government Area of Edo State have regained their freedom after escaping from captivity when their abductors reportedly fell asleep following an overnight trek through the forest.
The victims recounted their ordeal on Friday at the Edo State Police Command headquarters in Benin City, where they narrated how they seized the opportunity to flee and later found their way to security operatives.
Speaking on behalf of the victims, Braimah Destiny said he was returning from his farm when he encountered six armed men wielding guns and machetes. According to him, the assailants abducted him along with 10 other farmers and marched them deep into the forest.
He said the victims heard gunshots believed to have been fired by police operatives while they were being taken into the bush, but the kidnappers continued the journey throughout the night.
“We were forced to walk all night. When we eventually stopped, they told us to hide. They were exhausted and fell asleep, and that allowed us to escape and run to the police,” Destiny said, adding that the kidnappers assaulted and maltreated the victims during their captivity.
Another victim, Gloria Inyanugbo, narrated that she was kidnapped on January 12 while working on her farm and spent four days in captivity before her husband secured her release after paying a ransom of N3 million.
She alleged that the kidnappers also demanded an additional N300,000 to purchase hard drugs, food, and other supplies.
Inyanugbo said some of the suspects were later apprehended by community vigilantes, while others were arrested by the police through intelligence and tracking operations.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, disclosed that the command arrested 32 suspected kidnappers in June and rescued 38 kidnapped victims through intelligence-led operations and coordinated tactical responses across the state.
Agbonika added that the police also arrested 15 suspected cultists, three armed robbery suspects, 11 murder suspects, and 14 suspects linked to rape and defilement cases during the period.
According to the commissioner, the command has intensified operations against kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery, and other violent crimes, stressing that the successes recorded were made possible through collaboration with other security agencies and support from residents.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven policing and ensuring that criminal elements have no haven in Edo State.
