A deaconess of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Mrs. Ibelegbu Chidinma, who was kidnapped in Ogbere area of Ijebu-Ode, last Thursday, along with four other men has said that she escaped from her captors when they all fell asleep in a camp.
Chidinma was taken captive alongside four others -Chidioze Eluwa, Chiemela Iroha, Okoro Ohowukwe, Ndubuisi Owuabueze – Thursday, August 1.
They were going to the Redemption Camp along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for the annual Holy Ghost Convention of the RCCG.
The general overseer of the church (worldwide), Pastor Enoch Adeboye later said investigation revealed that only one of the five kidnapped victims was RCCG pastor, noting that the other four are not church members.
Chidinma said she was travelling from Asaba, Delta State, in the same commercial vehicle with other passengers when their vehicle was stopped on Ogbere Road by people she described as herdsmen and marched into the forest alongside four other travellers.
Chidinma, according to a source, stated that the herdsmen marched all the victims into the thick forest and that they all walked for hours, with the herdsmen guarding the victims.
“Almost immediately we reached what appeared to be the camp of our kidnappers, they all fell asleep, same with the other victims. But I kept awake.
“When I saw how deep everyone was snoring, I braved the odds and made a bid for my escape.
“I walked for about three hours, non-stop, until I made it to the road, where I saw an Okada (commercial motorcycle) operator.
“I explained my predicament to him, and he volunteered to help me to a Police checkpoint not far from where I had emerged from the forest.
“The policemen took me to the Ogun State Police Command, where I provided useful information that led to the rescue of the four remaining victims,” the source quoted Chidinma as telling a gathering.
The other four captives were rescued by the Ogun State Police Command yesterday.
Spokesman for the Ogun State Police Command, Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi said in a statement that the commissioner of police, Mr. Bashir Makama, led the rescue team.
According to Oyeyemi, the abductors emerged from the forest and forcefully stopped a commercial vehicle marked KW 230 XA belonging to Abia Line Transport Company and took the passengers into the forest.
Reacting to the rescue, All Progressives Congress (APC) commended the police command for its swift rescue of the victims.
The commendation was made in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos by the Ogun State chapter of the party.
Spokesman for the party, Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye, who signed the statement, praised the courage, quick intervention and professionalism of the policemen, personally led by Makama.
The party also commended the state governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun, for his commitment and determination to rid the state of crime and ensure peace and normalcy in all nook and crannies.
“His swift intervention and plea to President Muhammadu Buhari to which the inspector general of police responded by providing a helicopter that had since remained in Ogun and had helped in rescuing the victims at Ogunmakin and Ogbere,” he said.
The party also commended the inspector general of police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu for his decision to set up a Special Task Force in Ogun.
“Security is the responsibility of all; rather than rivalry there should be increased sharing of intelligence and synergy between security and paramilitary agencies, as only this would ensure efficient and effective combat of crimes in our society.
“We endorse the recently expressed intention of the governor, to re-launch, reactivate and re-energise the Ogun Security Trust Fund and urge him not to leave any stone unturned in order to make the state very safe for residents and travellers.
“We urge the police and other security agencies not to rest on their oars. Security of lives and property demands eternal vigilance,” said the party.
