By Christopher Oji and LAWRENCE ENYOGHASU
Eight kidnapped victims abducted in border towns between Lagos and Ogun states have been released by their captors.
Recall that four victims were abducted at Agbowa on September 16 by gunmen and four other residents of Isheri, were also kidnapped last week.
The kidnappers had placed N1.2billion ransom on the Isheri victims.
The eight victims were coincidentally released yesterday by their captors and reunited with their families.
The Agbowa victims, were Toyosi Aboderin, Ogechi Maku, Toju Amorighoye, and Funniyi Tayo Lawal, a baby.
They were reunited with their families at about 01:30am.
The Isheri victims, Dr. Bello Omololu, Esang Fidelis, Kenedy Ucheagwu, Olalere Olawale were also reunited with their families at about 12 am of same date.
The Lagos State Command PPRO, Dolapo Badmos, who confirmed the report, said the pressure and the heat mounted on the kidnappers by the command in partnership with its Ogun State counterpart made the criminals to abandon their mission and release their victims.
Badmus said,” serious manhunt for the hoodlums is ongoing.
The command however expressed appreciation to members of the public whose cooperation has contributed in no small measure to safe return of the victims, as we restate our commitment to protection of lives and property”
As at press time, there was wild jubilation at the Isheri area over the release of the victims.
The victims were abducted last Saturday while doing their morning exercise by hoodlums who dressed in military uniforms.
The armed hoodlums who wore mask had fired sporadically into the air and took the victims through the bush.
Narrating their experiences in the hands of their abductors, Kennedy told Saturday Sun that they were treated with utmost respect.
He said: “They fed us all the times. They never malhandled us, and we were also given Mosquito nets to sleep,” he narrated.
He added that the daredevil, who were almost about 20 hefty men in their camp, gave them a message to deliver to the Federal government.
“They said we should tell the government to stop attacking them. And that the militancy going in the South-South is not going to stop until they, the people of the region have control of their land. And if the government does not stop, they will continue to kidnap people to buttress their point”.
Also Dr. Omololu praised God that they have been freed from the claws of the daredevil. When asked if there was any ransom paid before they were freed, he stated that they did not. “I am tired to talk; all I want to do is rest. We did not pay any ransom to them,” he stated.
Saturday Sun investigation reveals that close friends and the community contributed N16 million ransom, but the official statement remained that there was no ransom paid.
“We paid N16 million for our four neighbours. We taised the money from well wishers. It was after the money was paid yesterday night that they released our neighbours”, the source stated.