Ondo: My kidnappers wore Army Uniform, can’t speak English —Victim

By: Oluwatosin Adesola

The Akunu -Auga – Isua Akoko- Ibilo- Kabba axis roads in Ondo and Edo states as well as in some part of Kogi state have been notorious for kidnapping for a very long time.

The aforementioned roads have turned to kidnappers den, unsafe for travellers. However due to the incessant kidnapping on the those axis, government mounted various military and police checkpoints on major flash areas in order to reduce the rate of kidnapping or put an end to it.

Despite the security formations in the flash areas on the roads identified with the nefarious activities of kidnapping in Auga Akanu Isua and Ibilo,the kidnapping not abated but still continue.

In view of the above, a pharmacist who is a medical representative from ondo state normally ply Auga-Akunu road to the other part of the country Adeyemi James Omoleminu narrates his ordeal in the hands of kidnappers in 2018 with some newsmen in Akure including SUNSHINETRUTH

Mr Adeyemi James Omoleminu is a medical sale representative hails from Okitupapa local government area of ondo state.

According to him,while coming from Abuja on 26th of October 2018 he was kidnapped around 5pm on the same notorious spot for kidnapping

He explained that,immediately he passed the military check point in Akunu Akoko,proceeded to the next point which is police check where he saw heavily armed man with military camouflage that wave him down and instantly he knew that this was not a police officer but a kidnapper.

A Medical sales Representative based in Ondo State, Adeyemi James Omoleminu, has expressed disappointment over political will to halt activities of kidnappers in Akoko area of Ondo State.

Adeyemi said he was abducted in Akoko area in 2018 at a place very close to a police check point.

He told journalists in Akure that he decided to speak out because his friend who was abducted in the same area last week was asked the same questions his abductors asked him.

Adeyemi said what was most disturbing was that policemen asked him how much he paid as ransom after he was released.

He said he was still traumatized by his experience at the kidnappers den until his family raised the sum of N2m to secure his freedom.

“I was returning from Abuja and after passing Kabba, I saw a man who was in Militray camouflage at a spot in Akoko area of Ondo State. He was armed and stopped me. I tried to reverse but five others came out from behind. I was burgled out of my car.

“They also used machete on me. They ransacked my car and took everything inside. Police check point was not far from there. Three of my abductors were in Army uniform. Others wore other uniforms. I was marched into the forest.

“I spent five days with them. They started with N100m negotiation and from there to N20m. They removed my sim from my phone and used their big phone which recorded all their conversation. They had a boss who used to come from outside to visit them. They spoke fulfide language. They said they were from Niger and was ready to take me across the border. They asked how much my car was worth.

“When they wanted go collect ransom, they told my dad to come to Ikare. He slept over at Ikare. They asked him to enter the First Bank at Ikare. It was on the fifth day they told my dad to come to Akungba. They asked him to buy bread and some drinks. I am sure they had spies in those areas. They rigmaroles my dad through different places and later asked him to go to Ibillo in Edo State.

“They later asked him to go to Ikakumo in Edo State where I was eventually released. We climbed a rock to enter Edo State. We paid N2m ransom.

“When I went to retrieve my car, the police said I should wait. They said I should make a statement. They asked me how much I paid. I said that was not the issue. They told me they knew about my abduction but they could not do anything. I even settled soldiers that claimed they retrieved my car.

“I decided to speak out for awareness. It was worrisome I was kidnapped at police checkpoint. The kidnappers made attempt to know my worth. Two of my friends were kidnapped in that same area in 2017 and 2019.

“Security around Akoko area in Ondo State is porous. There is no political will to bring it to a halt. As at last week, a friend of mine was kidnapped at that area. They also asked him how much is his car worth.”