Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, otherwise known as Amotekun Corps, have arrested suspected kidnappers in the state while attempting to receive ransom from a victim’s family.

According to the Commander of the corps, Adetunji Adeleye, the kidnappers, nine in number, were apprehended, last week, after his men disguised as family of one of the kidnapped victims.

While parading the suspects at its headquarters in Akure, along with other suspected criminals, Adeleye said the kidnappers abducted one Bello Audu at his residence in Akunnu-Akoko, Akoko North-West Local Council of Ondo State, and took him to the forest.

The Amotekun boss said operatives of the corps swung into action after the agency was alerted to the development.

He said: “When we got wind of the incident, we disguised as members of the family of the victim and took the ransom demanded by the kidnappers to them in their hideout.

“At the point of collecting the ransom, three of the armed kidnappers who came to collect the ransom were arrested. This led to the arrest of six other members of the gang at different locations in the state.”

Narrating his experience in the den of his abductors, Bello, a farmer, said he was observing the Islamic 7:00 p.m. Maghrib prayer at his residence in Akunnu-Akoko when six armed men suddenly came and flogged him with a stick and ordered him to follow them into the forest.

Bello added that he was fed a small quantity of garriflakes without water for five days before he was rescued by Amotekun Corps.

Bello, an indigene of Kwara State, said: “Some of them were carrying guns, and they asked me to follow them. They marched me from my house and led me to the forest. They later contacted my family, asking for ransom so that they could release me from their hideout.

“While in their hideout for five days, they offered me small quantity of garri to eat. They didn’t give me water throughout. Though I didn’t see them eat.

“I was later rescued from them by men of the Amotekun Corps when they wanted to collect the ransom brought to them for my release. They were all arrested by the Amotekun Corps.”