Two of the 16 kidnap victims recently rescued in Kogi State, Ngozi Stephen and Joshua Daniel, have recounted their 48-hour ordeal in the hands of their abductors.
The victims were among commuters abducted on Sunday along the Ojuwo–Ajengo–Memarebo and Ojiwo–Itobe roads in Ofu Local Government Area before being rescued on Monday during a joint operation by the military, police, and local vigilantes.
According to military authorities, the rescued group comprised six adult males, six females, and four children. One local hunter was killed while a police officer sustained injuries during the operation.
Speaking at the Kogi State Police Command headquarters on Tuesday, Ngozi revealed that the kidnappers used her as an interpreter due to her fluency in Hausa to communicate ransom demands to other victims.
“They told me, tell this person ₦50 million, tell this person ₦100 million, tell this person ₦70 million. That was how they were sharing it,” Ngozi said. “They even demanded ₦70 million from me. At some point, they threatened that if we failed to provide the money, they would sell us to ritualists.”
She added that the abductors fled when joint security forces closed in, leaving behind a bag containing seized phones and laptops.
Another victim, Joshua Daniel, narrated how he sustained a deep cut while attempting to escape shortly after their capture.
“I ran into a nearby bush, but one of them chased me and tried to cut me. I raised my hand to protect myself, and the cutlass cut my vein. I bled throughout the night until I applied some herbs,” Daniel said.
He noted that the captors spoke Igala, Fulani, and Hausa to conceal their conversations, adding that despite his injury, he assisted in carrying the wounded police officer to the main road during the rescue.
Daniel expressed gratitude to the security forces while offering condolences to the family of the slain hunter.
The police confirmed that all 16 rescued victims have undergone medical assessment and documentation prior to reunification with their families.
