One of the freed victims of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway kidnapping, Aminat Taiwo has revealed that her abductors were paid N3.2million before her companion, Tobi Orekoya, was released.
Recounting her ordeal in the hands of kidnappers, the 22-year-old graduate Aminat Taiwo also revealed that kidnappers killed victims abducted on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway whose family could not pay ransoms.
Describing her experience as harrowing, Aminat said we were ambushed by the kidnappers while on our way to attend a friend’s wedding in Ibadan.
She said, “Those kidnappers were more than 30; they covered their faces. They were putting on army and police uniforms.
“They were armed to the teeth; they had guns, swords, knives and other weapons. They asked us to lie down and collected all our money and phones. They collected gold chains, wristwatches, and other jewellery.
“At first, we thought they just wanted to rob us, but to our greatest surprise, after stripping us of everything we had, they asked us to start moving inside a deep forest. We walked for more than two hours inside the forest.
“We were moving in the forest for several hours; they did not give us water or food. We licked water on leaves in the forest. For the two days I spent with them, we did not stay too long in a place before they moved us to another place.”
Also recounting his ordeal in the hands of kidnapers former UI, Vice Chancellor Prof. Agbaje who was recently released by kidnappers, said “I was shot at in the head during the abduction process. I thank God that the bullet that went through my car’s windscreen left only a skin-deep wound on my head even though it left a gaping hole in the cap I was wearing. I did not even know about this till Saturday morning when I saw caked blood on my cap”.
“I am undergoing comprehensive health checks and so it may take some time to thank all my family, including my in-laws, friends and in-laws to my children, my friends, colleagues and all Nigerians”.
“For now I want to thank the following former and current Vice Chancellors of the University of Ibadan: Prof Olufemi Bamiro, Prof Isaac Adewole, Prof Idowu Olayinka and Prof Kayode Adebowale, my colleagues at the University of Ibadan and other Universities at home and abroad, current and former students, including Mr Fisayo Soyombo, for their wonderful support and generosity to my family, top government, military, and other security officials. I am quite grateful for all your efforts”.
“You all kept hope alive and ensured that the sensitive negotiations came to a successful end when I regained freedom.”