I watched 25 victims slaughtered in kidnappers’ den, Ilorin 15 -yr-old survivor recounts

By Ahmed Ajikobi

A 15-year-old boy, Olamilekan Abdulwaris Isiaka, at the weekend recounted how his abductors slaughtered 25 victims in a day at their den.
Olamilekan, was abducted by unidentified kidnappers last Monday at Anuoluwa Street, Egbejila area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital while running errand for his boss, Tobi Areoye around 7:30pm.
The teenager was asked by his boss to bring from home, some Aluminium tools to be used at Celestial Church of God, Airport area, Ilorin before he was kidnapped at gun point.
When National Pilot visited the victim’s house at Egbejila area, he is yet to fully recover from the shock of his kidnap. He recurrently ran inside his parents’ flat each time he sighted a stranger coming towards his direction.
The victim’s relatives and family friends were however noticed appreciating God for his release.
Speaking with our reporter, Olamilekan said, “I was told to go and bring a saw and tape rule but on my way, I stopped over at my house.
“I told my mother that I was hungry and that my boss sent me to his house to bring tools to use at our working place. My mother asked me to go fetch the tools for my boss while she prepares the food. She even gave me biscuit before my departure.
“On getting to Soft tea area along Anu Oluwa Street, a man out of the dark accosted me at gun point and as I attempted an escape, another man grabbed me at the back, he covered my head with cloth and instructed me not to shout. They subsequently took me away on a motorcycle.
“They thereafter put me on a bus. We were about 40 in the white coaster bus. I however did not know where they took us to. I can only say that the compound we were kept is big and fenced. The structures in the compound were made of zink,” he divulged.
Olamilekan said, immediately the victims were all ushered into one of the rooms, the kidnappers began to hit everyone on the chest with an object suspected to be charm.
“Upon touching them with the charm, they all fell to the ground. When it got to my turn, I was touched with same charm but nothing happened to me even though I was shivering.
“I was then dragged to a dug portion with a cask (drum) placed in it. They attempted slicing my throat with a knife but it did not penetrate. All I could feel was a pain on my neck.”
Speaking further, the teenager said he was pushed aside as the kidnappers continued their illicit acts on other victims.
“In my presence, they slaughtered 25 victims both male and female with their blood flowing through the dug hole. Also, other victims brought to the compound were led to another room.
“The kidnappers received phone calls and during the conversation they informed their callers that, they have ‘goods’ on ground,” he added.
The teen said once the kidnappers discovered he was not going to be useful to them, one of them suggested his release while the other said he should be locked up in one of the rooms.
“The kidnappers covered my head back with cloth, tied my hands and put me back in the bus. While the bus was moving, I overheard their conversation with one of them suggesting that they should stop over at Afon and drop me inside Asa river but his colleague kicked against the idea, saying I should be dropped somewhere to find my way home.”
According to Olamilekan, he was untied and dropped on speed, while the kidnappers zoomed off.
“I was then shivering when I was dropped and after 30mins I uncovered my face only to discover that I was dropped in a cassava farm. I checked my wristwatch and it was 2am on Tuesday. I began to walk down the road and I saw NASFAT sign post which made me breathe a sigh of relief.  I already knew I was close to home.
“I continued walking towards Airport junction and it took me about four hours to get home (6 am). I met people gathered at our residence and they were happy to see me return.
“All the questions they were asking me, I couldn’t answer any because I wept profusely all day,” he submitted.
Reacting to the release of her son, Hajia Mariam Isiaka said; “I became worried when I got the news of my son missing. Thoughhe informed me, he was sent on an errand by his boss, I however became apprehensive after I did not see him return an hour later. Immediately, I raised the alarm, our neighbours rushed out to sympathise with me.
“His boss too rushed down to our house and we searched everywhere including the church where they were working. We also reported at Adewole police station and Checking point police station. I couldn’t sleep but prayed till 6am when I heard people shouting my son’s name,” she narrated.
When contacted the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi said he is not aware of such report.

…as notorious kidnapper shot dead, 7 wounded

The Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) in Ogun State has shot dead a suspected member of a gang of kidnappers terrorising Ilaro in Yewa South Local Government Area of the state, the police said.
A former minister of Education, Iyabo Anisulowo, was abducted in the area some years ago and spent over one week with her kidnappers before the police came to her rescue.
Speaking on the development, yesterday, Police spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi,  said the gang had earlier kidnapped one Sanni Nasarawa, tied him up in a forest for seven days while waiting for ransom from his family.
Oyeyemi  said the victim untied himself and escaped while his abductors were fast asleep, and then reported at the state headquarters of FSARS in Abeokuta.
“Luck smiled on him when the rope they used to tie him got loose while his abductors were fast asleep,” the police spokesperson said.
“He subsequently escaped and ran to FSARS office in Abeokuta where he lodged a complaint.”
He added that the officer in charge of FSARS), Uba Adams, immediately mobilised his men to the forest and engaged the gang in gun duel.
“The team combed the forest from 6pm of 1st February up till about 4am of 2nd February before they came across the gang who engaged them in serious gun battle, which lasted for almost an hour,” Oyeyemi said.
“At the end of the encounter, one of the suspects was gunned down while others numbering about seven escaped with various degrees of gunshot injuries. Recovered from them was one AK47 riffle loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition,” the police spokesperson said.
He said, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ahmed Iliyasu, appealed to members of the public, especially hospitals as well as traditional healers to report anybody who presents himself with gunshot injury.
The police boss assured residents of Ogun State of prompt police response to any crime reported and urged them to continue to sustain the confidence they have in the police.