A survivor of the recent kidnapping attack along the Benin–Ore Highway, Mercy Otu, has recounted the traumatic experience she encountered while in captivity.
Mercy shared her experience with News Central, reminiscing the difficult conditions faced by victims during the period they were held hostage.
According to her, the kidnappers denied their captives food and water throughout their ordeal, leaving them in a state of fear and uncertainty.
NPO reports that the Ogun State Police Command rescued five persons who were abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Benin-Ore highway.
The victims regained their freedom barely 24 hours after they were abducted near Ogbere Forest during an operation codenamed “KOSAYE”, a Yoruba word meaning “No Space.”
Recounting one of the most emotional moments of her captivity, Mercy said she pleaded with the kidnappers after explaining that she had spent years raising her children alone following the death of her husband.
She said, “Even when I told them I’m a widow, I suffered for 12 years to train my children. I asked, ‘Will I die like this?’ Their leader said, ‘Madam, even if you die, God will keep the children.’”
The statement, she recalled, was one of the most heartbreaking moments of her time in captivity.
Mercy called on authorities to take urgent action to improve security along the Benin–Ore Highway.
She urged the government to clear the thick bushes surrounding the highway, noting that the overgrown vegetation provides hiding places for criminals and increases the risks faced by motorists travelling through the route.