A rescued student of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State, has recounted the terrifying ordeal he and other victims allegedly endured in the hands of their abductors, including witnessing the killing of a man in the forest.
The student, whose name was withheld, said the kidnappers also showed the victims decomposing bodies, warning that they would suffer the same fate if their families failed to meet the ransom demands.
He disclosed this in a video documentary on the rescue operation released by the Ogun State Police Command on Tuesday.
The students were abducted on July 29 from their off-campus hostel in the Ipara area of the state, according to an earlier report by PUNCH Metro.
Recounting the incident, the student said the gunmen invaded their residence after firing several shots and went from one apartment to another in search of victims.
He said he and some others initially hid in a toilet but were eventually discovered by the attackers, who ordered them to lie down and accused them of being internet fraudsters.
According to him, the kidnappers demanded to know who their “boss” was, insisting that their victims were involved in internet fraud and could therefore raise money for their release.
After tying their hands, the gunmen marched the victims into the forest, where they allegedly encountered another captive.
The student alleged that the man had his hands tied behind his back before the kidnappers stabbed and killed him.
He said the incident was used to intimidate the other captives and make them comply with the kidnappers’ instructions.
The victims were subsequently taken deeper into the forest, where they allegedly endured hunger, beatings and injuries while being moved between different hideouts.
The student said the kidnappers usually travelled at night and forced them to cross about three rivers while moving from one location to another.
He added that the gang demanded as much as N30m from each victim, although some ransom amounts were later reduced following negotiations with their families.
According to him, the abductors also took the captives to an area where they were shown dead bodies, allegedly claiming that the victims had been killed because their relatives failed to pay ransom.
He said the threat left the captives terrified as they pleaded with the kidnappers to spare their lives.
The student further disclosed that the victims were poorly fed and sometimes given only garri and water, while the kidnappers kept watch for approaching vehicles and motorcycles.
He said the captives were ordered to lie down or retreat into the bush whenever strangers were sighted.
The ordeal eventually ended when security operatives launched an operation against the kidnappers’ hideout.
The student said the gang attempted to flee with the victims during the confrontation, but he chose to move towards the direction of the security personnel instead of following the fleeing kidnappers.
He was, however, shot in the leg during the operation after initially mistaking the security personnel for the kidnappers.
The victim said he later pretended to be dead when the abductors returned to check on him, adding that they eventually abandoned him.
He said he regained hope after hearing a policeman asking colleagues to ascertain whether he was still alive.
The student subsequently identified himself and was rescued alongside another victim.
Expressing gratitude to the security agencies, he said the experience had changed his perception of the police and praised the operatives for venturing deep into the forest to rescue them.
The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, had earlier said the successful rescue demonstrated the government’s determination to prevent criminals from finding safe havens in the state.
Abiodun said the operation involved the police, military, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ogun State Amotekun Corps, local vigilantes and hunters.
The Nigeria Police Force also confirmed that three suspected members of the gang were killed during a gun duel with security operatives on August 6.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, said the police anti-kidnapping unit and DSS operatives had traced the suspects to their hideout following the rescue of the victims.
He said three suspects were neutralised during the ensuing gun battle, while other members of the gang escaped with gunshot injuries.
