EXCLUSIVE: How We Managed To Escape Kidnap Attack At Onigari, Lagos Ibadan Expressway – Traveller Recounts Ordeal
A number of travellers was on Friday evening kidnapped on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway by abductors who dressed in military uniform.
As a result of the situation, numerous vehicles decided to turn around and go in the opposite direction, causing tension to rise along the road.
Around KM 24, on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, near Dominion University City of Faith, the incident took place.
A traveller (name witheld) who escaped the kidnapping by whisker narrated that the kidnappers who were on military uniform were sighted coming from the bush when they lunched what he described as calculated attack.
In a chat with newsarena.ng, he said the kidnappers opened fire from the rear, killing nothing less than two travellers while others sustained various degrees of injuries.
“Myself and three of my colleagues were returning from Sagamu after close of work, by the time we got to Onigari axis of Lagos Ibadan expressway at about 4:30pm, we noticed some military men in the bush and was wondering what they could be doing in the bush” he said.
“Suddenly they came out of the bush from the front and the back and they opened fire from the rear but fortunately for us, our vehicle was at the middle so we were luck to get cover from the vehicles behind and the front”
“We ran into the bush and we were there for about forty minutes before we came out. A man who was hit by bulletin eventually died while we were trying to contact his family to inform them of the attack while others sustained seriously injuries.” He narrated
He added that many of the cars caught up in the incident were damaged as a result of efforts by drivers to maneuver themselves to escape.
“I don’t pray my enemy experience such occurrence, it was traumatic” He concluded
According to a second eyewitness who talked with Daily Trust, the number of kidnapped individuals was unknown, but three private automobiles were damaged.
The eyewitness, who was traveling from Lagos to Ibadan, reported that drivers and people nearby were afraid.
He said, “I can confirm some motorists have just been kidnapped near Dominion University, Ibadan. Many vehicles had to turn back but the road is free as I am talking to you.
“I saw three vehicles with their doors wide open and not a single person was found inside the three vehicles and there is no trace of where they ran to.
“One of the cars smashed it bonnet on the wall while the one behind jammed it from behind but there no sign of accident. We are sure it was a case of kidnap because the vehicles were empty.
“At first, we taught it was robbery but if it was not. We should have seen those that were robbed. There was nobody at the scene when my vehicle got there.”
The witness claimed that as they left the area, they noticed some hunters and vigilantes making their way towards the scene of the crime.
When reached as at the time of this report, Colonel Olayinka Olayanju, the Oyo state Amotekun Commandant, informed Daily Trust he had no knowledge of the most recent kidnapping in the state.
I am not aware of such a development, he replied. We won’t be told if such a thing occurs because it cannot possibly occur. Such a thing strikes me as odd. I’ll research it and get back to you.
Oyo state police command has not responded to the development at the time of this report.
