Residents of Eda Oniyo-Ekiti in Ekiti state have sought to clarify the circumstances surrounding the freedom of victims recently abducted in the community, insisting that the victims were released by their captors after a ransom was paid, contrary to reports suggesting that they were rescued by security operatives.
In a statement made available to CoolNews Nigeria, Comrade Ajayi Adewale Victor said it was necessary to correct what he described as a misleading narrative surrounding the incident.
According to him, there is a significant difference between a rescue operation and the release of abductees following the payment of ransom, stressing that the distinction should not be ignored.
He explained that a rescue operation ordinarily means that security agencies successfully tracked the kidnappers, located the victims through intelligence gathering or tactical operations, and secured their freedom without yielding to the demands of the criminals.
He, however, maintained that this was not the case in the Eda Oniyo-Ekiti incident.
The statement alleged that the victims eventually regained their freedom only after members of the Eda Oniyo-Ekiti community, families of the victims, and other compassionate Nigerians made substantial financial and emotional sacrifices to raise the ransom demanded by the kidnappers.
According to the statement, the process of securing the victims’ release subjected relatives and members of the community to enormous emotional, psychological, and financial hardship before the captives were eventually freed.
The community further noted that no security agency has publicly presented evidence indicating that a coordinated operation led to the victims’ freedom. It argued that describing the development as a rescue does not accurately reflect what transpired and undermines the efforts and sacrifices of those who contributed to securing the release of the abductees.
While acknowledging the important role security agencies play in safeguarding lives and maintaining law and order, the statement emphasized that public information on security-related incidents should be factual and transparent.
It added that assigning credit where it is not deserved could diminish the suffering endured by the victims, their families, and the wider community during the ordeal.
The incident, the statement noted, also draws renewed attention to the security challenges confronting many rural communities across Nigeria. It called on the Federal Government, state governments, and security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve security deployment in vulnerable communities, and adopt proactive measures capable of preventing future abductions.
The community stressed that no community should be left with the painful option of negotiating with kidnappers or raising ransom to secure the freedom of innocent citizens.
The clarification was signed by Comrade Ajayi Adewale Victor.
Editor’s Note: At the time of filing this report, CoolNews Nigeria has not independently verified the claim regarding whether the victims were released following ransom payment or rescued through a security operation.
Facebook Comments