Some victims abducted from their farms in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State have recounted how they escaped from captivity after their kidnappers reportedly fell asleep from exhaustion.

The victims said their captors became fatigued after forcing them to trek through the forest overnight, creating an opportunity for them to flee.

Speaking at the Edo State Police Command headquarters, one of the victims, Braimah Destiny, said he encountered six armed men while returning from his farm.

According to him, the gunmen also abducted 10 other people before leading them deep into the forest.

Braimah said the victims heard gunshots believed to have been fired by police operatives while they were being marched into the bush.

He explained that after walking throughout the night, the kidnappers eventually fell asleep, allowing the victims to seize the opportunity to escape from captivity.

According to him, “I was coming from the farm when I met six of them armed with guns and machetes. They also captured others, making us 11 victims. They took us from one bush to another. It was around six pm when we heard police shooting. They made us walk throughout the night. We got to a place, and they told us to hide. They were very tired, and they slept off.

“That was how we helped ourselves and ran away. We ran to the police station and met the police. The kidnappers beat us and maltreated us.”

Another victim, Gloria Inyanugbo, who identified her abductors, said she spent four days at the kidnappers’ den before her husband paid N3m for her release.

“I was kidnapped on the 12th of January while working on the farm. They asked how much I had in my account after taking me inside the bush. I spent four days until my husband raised N3m and another N300,000 to buy hard drugs, food and other items.

“Community vigilantes nabbed two of them inside the bush, and the police arrested the other through tracking. I saw one of them who boasted that nobody could do him anything. I can’t imagine the police could arrest them.” (The Nation)