Freed kidnap victims in Ogun State have said their abductors told them they were involved in criminality to survive the economic situation in the country.
The victims, who included a school principal, two teachers and a nurse, were last week held hostage by kidnappers at Irele-Oke-Ako road, around the boundary with Kogi State, for over a week.
The freed abductees disclosed this yesterday while recounting their ordeals in the hands of bandits to the chairman, Ajoni Local Council Development Area, Hon. Michael Ogungbemi, who paid them a visit at the hospital.
They were receiving medicare for bodily bruises they sustained during the long and tortuous night trek after being let off the hook.
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The victims, who are government workers, told the council chairman that their captors were non-Yoruba and majorly illiterates, who could hardly read or write.
The victims, who spoke under anonymity, said they were forced to trek throughout the night to neighbouring states, covering over 50 kilometres in a sprawling forest between Ekiti and Kogi states.
“They said they have no mercy for anybody, that whoever they picked must pay ransom or face death,” the survivors said.
“The state government must ensure that all our border towns in Ekiti are adequately secured. Our security networks should improve on intelligence gathering to ensure effective policing because these criminals are living among us.”
Responding, Ogungbemi assured all residents of the area of peace, safety and protection.
