A woman rescued from kidnappers in the Ogbere forest area of Ogun State has narrated her traumatic experience in captivity, revealing that she had lost hope of survival and prayed for the repose of her soul before security operatives arrived.
The victim, who identified herself simply as Temiloluwa, was among five abducted travellers rescued by the Ogun and Lagos State joint security outfit, Operation Kosaye, during a coordinated operation on Friday.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday at the Police Training School, Iperu-Remo, Temiloluwa described the rescue as miraculous and appealed to the Federal Government to improve the welfare, remuneration and operational equipment of police officers who risk their lives to protect Nigerians.
According to her, the ordeal began on Thursday, June 25, while travelling from Edo State to Lagos to spend her annual leave with her family. She said she was in the company of two senior colleagues when heavily armed kidnappers ambushed their vehicle around Ogbere in Ijebu East Local Government Area.
“We suddenly heard gunshots everywhere. Vehicles were crashing into one another as people tried to escape. I hit my head against the front seat and lost one of my teeth,” she recalled.
Temiloluwa said while the driver escaped, a colleague who also had the chance to flee stayed behind after seeing her bleeding profusely.
“The engineer sitting in front could have escaped too, but when he saw me covered in blood, he refused to leave me behind,” she said.
The kidnappers reportedly robbed the victims of cash, jewellery and other valuables before forcing them to trek for about four hours into the forest. They later compelled the victims to contact their families and demanded ₦20 million as ransom.
Hope was restored on Friday evening when security operatives launched a rescue mission.
“We suddenly heard heavy gunfire. The kidnappers started running while we hid in fear. One of us eventually looked around and realised it was the police. I never expected that,” she said.
Overcome with emotion, Temiloluwa admitted she had accepted death before the rescue.
“I had already prayed to God to grant me access to His kingdom if I died. Seeing the police arrive changed my perception completely. They rescued us and have treated us with care and dignity ever since.”
She urged both the Federal and State Governments to prioritise the welfare of security personnel, insisting that better salaries, allowances and equipment would further strengthen the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes.
“They should be properly equipped and their welfare should be top-notch. These are the people risking their lives so the rest of us can sleep peacefully. Government must continue to boost their morale,” she said.
Another rescued victim, Jimoh Gbadamosi, also praised the swift intervention of Operation Kosaye and called for increased investment in policing, noting that improved funding and welfare would enhance the capacity of security agencies to tackle criminality nationwide.
The successful rescue has once again highlighted the security challenges along the Ogbere axis while underscoring the importance of coordinated security operations in combating kidnapping and restoring hope to victims and their families.