Some gunmen invaded the Father Dibia Road area between the Ika North East and Ika South local government areas of Delta State, abducted five residents, including a politician and a businessman, and demanded N100m ransom for their release.

Flavision gathered that after the abduction, the gunmen took the victims into the forest, where they trekked a long distance, till they got to Umunede.

Before getting to the town, it was learnt that three of the victims, including the politician, Sunny Onyejose, a carpenter and a woman, were released, while the businessman, Michael Egbudu, and two other victims slept in the bush close to Umunede.

Onyejose said that he and Egbudu were on their way to inspect a plot of land when the gunmen came out of the bush, intercepted them and captured them.

He said he took ill while being led to an unknown destination in the forest, adding that the abductors instructed one of the victims to take him home.

Onyejose stated,

I conveyed Egbudu on my motorcycle and one Friday Ekugum was following us on his motorcycle. We were all going to inspect a plot of land around the Father Dibia Road, close to the Berger Bridge, when the gunmen suddenly came out of the bush around 10am and ordered us to stop moving. Two men were in the front and another two were at the back; three of them had AK-47 rifles and the other one held a dagger.

They took us into the bush, where we were asked to lay down, and some of them went back to kidnap three more persons, including a woman. They later released the woman and took five of us into the forest. We trekked over a long distance and I began praying to God to rescue us so that we won’t die in their custody.

But when the stress of the journey got too much, I took ill and the gunmen collected my sneakers, wristwatch and N15,000, and told one of the other victims to take me home.

Others continued with the journey. When I got home in the evening, I realised that the police had been notified. Those, who kidnapped us, were Fulani from the way they spoke among themselves. I want the government to come to our aid, because our people can no longer go to the farm.

Egbudu, on his part, told PUNCH Metro that the kidnappers demanded N100m ransom for their release and the victims were able to beat it down to N5m, adding that they were released after the ransom was paid.

He said,

The incident happened on May 29, 2020, and we slept in the bush and the following morning, we continued the journey till we got close to Umunede. When we got there, they started interrogating us to know the kind of work that we do and told us they wanted cash to set us free. We were initially asked to pay N100m for our release, but we started negotiating till it was reduced to N5m.

We were asked to start contacting our families for money; so, all of us started calling family members; when the others could not provide any money, my brother helped me to raise the money and they gave him direction to our location, but warned him not to come with any security agent if he wanted us alive.

We were released when he brought the money, but the other victims have yet to refund the money. I want the government to come to my aid and assist me, because I can’t bear the loss alone.

When contacted, the Delta State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said four persons were kidnapped and had been released, adding that the police presence in the area had been boosted to protect lives and property.

She stated,

Four persons were kidnapped and they have all been released. Two of the victims went to a plot of land that they wanted to sell when the incident happened. We have been patrolling the area and with what happened, we have intensified our patrol.

The Divisional Police Officer has paid the victims a visit and some of them claimed to be tired, but we are doing the needful.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.