‘They Killed Eight Captives’ — Kwara Farmer Recounts Ordeal in Kidnappers’ Den

A Kwara State farmer, Abdullahi Abdulazeez, has narrated his experience in captivity, saying he witnessed about eight kidnapped victims being killed after their families failed to meet ransom demands.

Abdulazeez said he was abducted in December 2025 alongside his younger brother and two workers while they were travelling to their farm around Babanla, near Oke-Ode.

He said the kidnappers attacked them, handcuffed the four victims and took them into the bush.

According to him, the group trekked for almost four hours before reaching a location where other members of the gang took them farther into the bush.

They eventually arrived at the kidnappers’ camp at about 6pm.

Abdulazeez said they met several other victims at the camp and witnessed what he described as a series of killings.

He told Punch that about eight captives were killed in their presence.

According to his account, the kidnappers killed victims when their families failed to make ransom payments quickly enough.

The farmer said he and the other three members of his group were also threatened with death and kept in handcuffs on their hands and legs.

He said helicopters landed in the area on several occasions and that the kidnappers would meet people involved in ransom negotiations.

Abdulazeez said his family was initially asked to pay ₦400m for their release.

After negotiations, his father paid about ₦27m in several instalments before the kidnappers eventually released them.

He said the kidnappers continued demanding additional payments after receiving the first instalment, claiming that an earlier payment had been taken by someone who disappeared with it.

The farmer said his captivity lasted almost two months and 12 days, with his release coming on February 12.

After leaving the kidnappers’ camp, he said the victims trekked through the bush and eventually reached a military base, where soldiers provided them with food, clothing and assistance.

Abdulazeez said his family’s houses, farms and other property were also destroyed during the ordeal.

He has since relocated to Akure, saying insecurity made it impossible for him to continue living and farming in the area.