A rescued kidnap victim, yesterday, narrated how kidnappers fed him and other victims a spoonful of garri each once a day for the eight days he spent in their captivity.
The victim, Yakubu Simeon, told newsmen after they were rescued by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Nasarawa State.
He said, “We were kidnapped at ‘Many have gone hill’, a mountain pass in Akwanga Local Government Area last week when the Deputy Governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, ran into the kidnappers. He lost three police escorts, a driver and another driver was also killed.
“After they kidnapped us, they forced us to lie down with one armed man keeping guard; they told us that they would shoot whoever attempted to run. They went back to kidnap other victims. When the convoy of the Deputy Governor arrived the scene, they then engaged his convoy, killed some of them and carried their rifles,” he said.
Simeon said the kidnappers took them into the forest. “Even though they said that they came to the area about a month ago, they were familiar with the terrain,” he added.
He said they trekked for five hours before they got to the kidnappers’ den on top of a mountain that took one hour to climb.
“They were ruthless. They starved us; left us in the open despite the rain. They forced us to plead with our relations to pay the ransom. I and another person raised one million naira. The others raised some thousands and the last person who did not pay any amount was released along with us.”
Another victim, Yakubu Gumjere, said he was also kidnapped at the same spot, adding that the kidnappers hid deep inside the mountain when a police helicopter hovered over them.
Nasarawa State NSCDC Commander, Muhammad Fari, said the rescued victims comprised of five males and two females, adding that they were rescued around Wulko village near Akwanga on Monday night.
