Adefunke Ale, a victim of kidnapping, has shared the terrifying details of her abduction on the Akure/Owo Road in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The incident occurred on October 15 when eight armed kidnappers ambushed Adefunke and her brother, Yemi Ogunmolasuyi, as they traveled from Owo to Akure.
Recalling the traumatic experience, Ale revealed that the assailants, armed with AK-47 rifles and without disguises, targeted her specifically to extort a substantial ransom from her son, Akeem Olugosi, residing in the United States.
“They shot at our car, and we had to park, and all the car doors opened
“Four of them guided me to the bush, and another set of four guided my elder brother also to the bush,” she said.
Adefunke Ale described how she and her brother were separated in the bush, and during the ordeal, she sustained injuries while being dragged.
The kidnappers confiscated her belongings, including her international passport, driver’s license, cell phones, national identity card, ATM card, and a smaller bag.
“They had to drag me, and in the process, I sustained some wounds on my legs.
“While being dragged, one of them asked them to carry me, and they had already removed my footwear and had taken my bag, which contained many valuables: international passport, driver’s licence, cell phones, national identity card, ATM card, and a smaller bag,” Ms Ale narrated.
Despite the distressing situation, motorists on the road initially hesitated to intervene. It took the timely arrival of some police officers to rescue Ale and transport her to a hospital for medical attention.
She emphasized the need for urgent and effective measures by the government to address the escalating menace of kidnapping on Nigerian roads.
Ale disclosed that her brother spent six agonizing days in captivity as the kidnappers demanded a hefty N100 million ransom initially.
Despite enduring a traumatic experience, she commended the police officers who facilitated her rescue and called for concerted efforts to eradicate the scourge of kidnapping in the country.
In the aftermath, Adefunke Ale is urging government authorities at all levels to devise lasting solutions to ensure the safety of citizens traveling on Nigerian roads, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the alarming rise in kidnapping incidents.