Metro

How I Escaped From Kidnappers’ Den In – Female Victim

Published

3 years ago

May 22, 2023

A 40-year-old female victim of kidnappers in Kwara State, Funmilayo Olatunji, has recounted her miraculous escape from the den of kidnappers.

Funmilayo, who was abducted alongside two others, luckily escaped from the kidnappers barely hours after her abduction.

The three victims were abducted two weeks ago on Sunday at Eju town near Obbo-Ile, in Ekiti Local Government of the state.

According to Funmilayo in an interview with DAILY POST in Ilorin on Sunday, “we were seated outside the house with one Pastor Tope of the Winners Church, at about 7am, when four gunmen approached us asking if they could get cigarettes to buy.

“I responded by telling them, we don’t sell cigarettes and suddenly they brought out their AK-47 rifles.

“Immediately, I dropped my headphone under the chair I was sitting, with my handbag, but they were able to carry my handbag which contained some personal items.”

“Just as the drama unfolded, another victim, a 20-year-old female called Blessing Jacob, strayed in and the three of us were abducted at gunpoint and marched into an unknown forest amid torture,” she added.

Funmilayo, disclosed that when they got to the forest, the gunmen then requested a ransom of N10m from each of the three victims.

She said, “They enquired if I have parents and family who could be called to come to the rescue. I then asked Pastor Tope to call my husband and mother to inform them, but was not successful.

“When my husband was reached at last, they demanded N30m for the release of the three captives.

“At about 1.40am after walking for several hours through the forest, I started praying to God to set us free.

“An opportunity opened up for us to escape but Pastor Tope rejected the attempt and so I left them.

“In the course of my long trek in the bush, I came across one operator called Abraham, who told me to go straight toward Ona-Ora and not to branch anywhere again, from where a vigilante member picked me up,” she narrated.

She said the matter was reported to the police at Osi town but no action had been taken till the time of this report.

Funmilayo further disclosed that the kidnappers later demanded ransom from the families of the remaining two victims, who eventually were forced to pay N200,000 for their release four days after their abduction.

“They also collected tramadol tablets and packets of cigarettes as part of the condition to secure their release,” she added.

She identified the kidnappers as Fulani Bororo who spoke English and Yoruba languages fluently.

Efforts to reach the spokesman of the state police command, SP Okasanmi Ajayi, in Ilorin on Sunday proved abortive.

Metro

Court Sentences Man To Death For Killing Son

Published

10 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

The Kano State High Court has sentenced Abubakar Alhaji Sabo to death by hanging after finding him guilty of killing his newborn son.

The Kano State Government prosecuted Sabo before the court on charges of culpable homicide and causing grievous harm.

He was accused of force-feeding the infant with a local insecticide known as ‘fiya-fiya’, resulting in the child’s death.

Sabo killed the baby after the mother, his girlfriend, refused to obey his instruction to kill the child to avoid the shame of fathering a child out of wedlock.

Following the incident, he was also found guilty of striking the girlfriend’s father on the head with a brick after he caught Sabo poisoning the baby.

During the trial, the prosecution counsel, Barrister Safiya Yalwati Yahaya, presented three witnesses, while the defendant testified in his own defence.

After reviewing the evidence presented by both parties, Justice Aisha Yau, who presided over the case, found him guilty of infanticide and sentenced him to death by hanging.

The court also imposed an additional three-year prison sentence for causing grievous harm.

Metro

Nine Kwara Victims: Kidnappers Insist On N300m Ransom

Published

10 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

No progress has been recorded on the bandits demand for N300m ransom for the release of nine victims abducted in Adanla community of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara state on Boxing Day, December 26, 2025.

Coordinator of the Joint Security Watch for Kwara South Senatorial District, Zubair Olaitan, disclosed this on Wednesday.

According to DAILY POST, the bandits have so far made three contacts with the community leaders that “if the N300m is not paid, the victims will not be released.”

The bandits seized the nine victims in an attempt to abduct the King of the community, and his wife on Boxing Day, but failed.

The King, David Olarinoye, was away to Igbaja town for a programme when the armed bandits invaded his community.

The bandits, however, later seized nine other victims in the community and marched them to the bush.

While seven victims were abducted at the palace of the King, two others were captured on their way to the bush.

Following the abduction, the bandits demanded a N300m for the release of the abducted victims, resisting any negotiations for reduction of the ransom.

Metro

Man Arrested In Edo For Alleged Abduction Of 4-year-old

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Editor

21-year-old ThankGod Destiny has been arrested by the Edo State Security Corps, ESSC, for allegedly kidnapping a four-year-old boy in the state.

Deputy Corps Commander, Operations, of the ESSC, Richard Balogun, who disclosed this to newsmen in Benin on Thursday, said the suspect has been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.

Balogun, while disclosing that the incident happened on January 4, 2026 at Ikpoba Hill, Benin, said the arrest of the suspect followed an alarm raised by a commercial bus driver and a female passenger.

The ESSC commander said, “On January 4, 2026, a woman went out with her son at lkpoba Hill in Benin city. A few minutes later, the son disappeared from her sight.
This suspect identified as ThankGod Destiny had allegedly kidnapped the four-year-old boy.

“The little boy was hurriedly taken into a commercial bus going towards kings Square in Benin city.

“The driver of the bus who noticed a great difference in resemblance between the little boy and the man, however questioned where he was heading with the little boy.

“He lied that the boy is ill and he is taking him to the hospital. But later on, a female passenger asked him about his destination with the boy. He replied that he was going to buy the boy shoe.

“The various replies made the driver and the woman raise the alarm. The alarm attracted men of the Edo State Security Corps who were on patrol. The suspect was immediately arrested and the kidnapped little boy rescued unhurt.”

Balogun, who said the victim has been reunited with his family, assured that the Corps will continue to hunt for criminals in the state.