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How kidnappers tortured us in Imo – Rescued victims
The four kidnap victims rescued by the Imo State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit on Saturday have shared their experience in the hands of their abductors.
The victims, Mrs Carolyn Didia, Mrs Ego Odu, Mrs Apollonia Ezekwe, and Mr Godwin Ezekwe, were in the same vehicle when they were kidnapped on the Obosima-Ohoba road in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of the state on Friday.
According to the victims, they were ambushed by the gunmen while travelling to Owerri from their community in Awarra for a wedding, adding that the kidnappers shot at their vehicle, forcing them to stop.
The driver of the SUV conveying them was said to have attempted to flee but was caught and macheted by the kidnappers.
Speaking to our correspondent on Sunday, Godwin, a Lagos-based computer system merchant, said the gunmen first shot their vehicle from behind before another set ambushed them some metres ahead of them.
“I was on my way to Owerri on Friday evening at about 6 pm in a commercial vehicle with five other passengers for my niece’s wedding. When we were between Ohoba and Obosima, I saw some gunmen who started shooting at the back of our vehicle. As we drove fast ahead, we encountered another set in front and we had to stop. Our driver ran away after stopping the vehicle, but they pursued him, caught him and macheted him. We were six and they allowed two elderly women among us to go and took the remaining four of us into the bush which looked like the Sambisa forest. We trekked from about 6 pm till 3 am.
“We got to a spot and were asked to stay there. That was how they started to beat us. They asked us to call our relatives and tell them where we were and that they should send N150m. After a while, we all stayed on the spot and by 7 am, we started walking again till 12am on Saturday. The next place we got to, they discovered that people were passing there so we stopped again and they slept off in the process.”
It was then that a hunter saw us and went back to the community to inform others.”
Ezekwe said the moment other hunters came to the spot, the kidnappers became upset and shot him in his two legs. He added that the hunters rescued him and others from where he was taken to the hospital for medical attention.
In a video obtained by PUNCH Metro on Sunday, Odu, on her part, said the gunmen forced them out of the vehicle and started to beat the four of them.
She said, “I was heading to my sister’s wedding in Owerri to cook for her. The moment they ambushed our vehicle, they forced us out of the vehicle and started to beat us. I was not familiar with the area they took us to. We just kept walking till this morning (Saturday) until we were rescued.”
Another victim, Didia, lamented that they were forced to walk long distances, saying, “A tricycle was ahead of us when the incident happened but they allowed the tricycle to drive a bit far from us when five gunmen came out of the bush. They made us walk long distances in the bush as they started taking us from one point to another. That was how we moved till morning.”
The Imo State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit in a statement on Saturday said it rescued the victims after a gunfight with the kidnappers, resulting in the death of two suspects.
The police spokesperson, ASP Henry Okoye, confirmed the rescue operation and the neutralisation of the two suspects.
He revealed that in the process of rescuing the victims, the police recovered one AK-47 rifle, 21 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and a magazine from the criminals.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Kidnappers have killed a Nigerian Army non-commissioned officer, Abdulfatai Odutola, over a delay in ransom payment.
Recall that Odutola, a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO), was abducted on February 15, 2025, along the Abuja-Jos highway.
He was reportedly travelling to Yola, the Adamawa State capital, at the time of the incident.
His kidnappers had demanded a ransom of N20 million for his release.
A military internal memo earlier obtained by SaharaReporters had read, “Pls information reaching me now from this sldr whisky that MWO Abdulfatai Odutola (CC 23 BDE Yola) was kidnapped yesterday along Abuja-Jos Road, while returning to Yola. He left Ilorin on Friday 14th of Feb 2025 and slept at Abuja. He continued his movement from Abuja yesterday b4 the incident happened to him.
“Currently they are demanding N20,000,0000 for his release. Pse appropriate authority should help the sldr.”
However, another internal memo revealed that the body of the senior personnel has been recovered.
“Information reaching us now from Yola is that the above MWO Abdulfatai Odutola’s body was discovered by police from Jos forest killed by his kidnappers after passing deadline for payment of 20 million naira ransom payment demanded by his kidnappers. Also his car was discovered. Kindly take action.”
SaharaReporters recently reported that Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists killed three army personnel during an attack on a military base in Borno State.
The terrorists reportedly attacked the military facility in Isige town, Gwoza Local Government Area, for several hours.
According to a source, the terrorists destroyed several buildings and stole two gun trucks during the assault.
“There was an attack recently in Borno, one Staff Sergeant with two private soldiers were killed. However, the army authorities are silent over the attack which happened at a base in Isige Town, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
“They burnt one military vehicle while they went away with two gun trucks, later reinforcement came from nearby unit but then the Boko Haram fighters have left,” the source said. (SaharaReporters: Text, Excluding Headline)
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Canada’s immigration authorities have clarified that seeking asylum does not provide an automatic exemption from immigration laws.
The Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) emphasised that individuals seeking asylum must demonstrate that returning to their home country would subject them to serious harm in order to avoid deportation.
The asylum system is designed to offer protection to those fleeing threats such as torture, persecution, and inhumane treatment.
IRCC has reiterated that the asylum process is not a shortcut to entering the country.
Applicants must provide verifiable evidence of persecution and undergo multiple checks, including medical examinations, biometric data collection, and security screenings.
The statement reads, “It is a rigorous process to determine whether you have a legitimate need for refugee protection according to Canadian and international laws. Our rules-based system will determine the validity of your claim. It’s important to understand that not all claims will be accepted. If you make an asylum claim in Canada, you will need to:
Have health, criminal, security and other background checks
Get a medical exam
Provide personal and biometric (photo and fingerprints) information
Provide concrete evidence of persecution and the risks of being in your home country
Declare on your application if you are working with a representative, even if you’re not paying them
“Providing false information on your refugee claim application is considered lying, and your application may be refused.
“You’ll be removed from Canada if you don’t have a legitimate claim or are not eligible to make a claim in Canada. It can take a long time to get a final decision on your asylum claim. There’s no guarantee that you will be allowed to stay in Canada.”
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Governor Ademola Adeleke has ordered restriction of vehicular movement from 5am to 5pm on Saturday 22nd February 2022 across Osun state.
The directive of the State Governor was sequel to the statewide local government elections that are scheduled to be held tomorrow across the state.
Governor Adeleke who reiterated his commitment to peace and security said the movement restriction is necessary to prevent importation of hoodlums into the state amidst local elections.
He therefore directed security agencies to enforce the restriction and only allow voters and accredited media and civil society organizations for the continued peace and security of Osun state.
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