According to Punch, the kidnappers were worn army uniform.

The victims participated in a wedding event in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday, and were going back to their base in Lagos State on Sunday, when one of the cars conveying them to their destinations broke down on the road.

Among the victims, Folahan Akinsola, who talked to Punch on Monday, stated they were trying to tow the malfunctioning car when the kidnappers struck.

He said, “We went to participate in a wedding in Ibadan on Saturday and lodged there after the wedding. The following day, as early as 5.30 am, we began our journey to Lagos State. We relocated a convoy of 3 cars, consisting of 2 Toyota Corollas and one Toyota Camry.

“I was in the Toyota Camry ahead of the 2 other lorries and we were trying to overtake a truck on the expressway. As our chauffeur overtook the truck, we zoomed off and had actually moved rather a range before realising that we could not see others coming behind us.

“So, we reversed and drove against traffic to search for them. We later found them by the roadside around the Isara location. One of the drivers of the Toyota Corolla, Shola, said his vehicle developed a fault. We were cutting the seat belt of his automobile to utilize as rope to tow the automobile to somewhere safe when four armed males came out of the bush and kidnapped seven of us.”

Out of the 7 abducted victims, Akinsola stated 3 persons were launched, as the ruffians demanded N60m ransom for the others.

He added, “The abductors were all worn Army uniform and commanded us to go into the bush. They were more than 4, as there were some of them inside the bush. They took some personal valuables and set some of us complimentary.

“I became part of individuals that were released and we were told to go and raise N15m to protect the release of each of the staying 4 victims. We are to raise N60m and that is why we are looking for aid from Nigerians as these kidnappers said they will lose them if they don’t get the money.

“After we regained our freedom, we called 911. We were driving back to Ibadan when we fulfilled some urbane cops and likewise reported the case to them. We were informed that the case was not within their jurisdiction. We were referred to the Isara Police Division.

“We later on reported the case there and learnt more about that the Divisional Police Officer had mobilised about 25 cops to the scene of the event. These kidnappers have actually been sending danger videos revealing us our friends in their custody.”

Akinsola recognized the victims as Adeola Bude, John Segun, Demola, aka Smith, and Bude’s colleague, Shola.

PUNCH Metro gathered that 2 of the victims work with the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers.

The spokesperson for NCRIB, Tope Daramola, confirmed the occurrence.

He stated, “Two of our junior staff, Shola Olawuyi and Adeola Bude, were included and effort is being made to guarantee that they are launched.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the state Commissioner of Police had gone to the criminal offense scene for an on-the-spot evaluation.

He stated, “The anti-kidnapping system has actually been there given that the other day (Sunday) and the Commissioner of Police existed today (Monday) to have an on-the-spot evaluation of the whole situation and to offer the needed regulation.

“So, we are on it and soon, we are having the hope of rescuing the victims alive. The function of the kidnap is to siphon money from their family members; it is their routine trademark.

“It was an opportunistic criminal offense because our guys are constantly on that roadway, however unfortunately, the automobile conveying those individuals broke down along the road and the hoodlums made the most of the circumstance to strike.”

ToriNG