I Had To Share Drinking Water With Cattle - Abducted Monarch Recounts Kidnap Experience

The Oniyani of Iyani-Akoko in Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Joel Daudu, has described his ordeal in the hands of the hoodlums that kidnapped him last Saturday (on Easter’s eve) as hell as he was forced to drink from the same water source with cattle.
The traditional ruler was abducted by unknown gunmen on Ikare-Owo Expressway at Oba Akoko while travelling to Akure, the state capital. But the monarch was released three days later at Ogbese in the Akure North Local Government Area of the state, Punch reports.


It would be recalled that the abductors reportedly demanded N15m from the family of the victim,which was later reduced to N3m. It was, however, not disclosed whether the ransom was finally paid before the monarch regained his freedom.

Speaking with journalists at his palace, Oba Daudu, expressed gratitude to God, the Ondo State Government and the people of his community for the roles they played to secure his release. He said it was a horrible experience.

He said, “We drank water from ponds where cattle drink while we slept on rocks and were made to trek long distance during our captivity.

“We were in the bush climbing hills and sleeping on top of rocks. It was a bad experience, it was terrible, I don’t even wish for my enemy to pass through such experience. I did not know it was even Easter.”

According to him, during his captivity, he and other victims interacted with the kidnappers. He explained that their abductors told them that the bad economic situation of the country forced them to become kidnappers because they had no means of surviving again.

The traditional ruler called on the Federal Government to provide adequate security for traditional rulers in the country by attaching security personnel to them for safety.

He also called on the police to increase the number of police checkpoints on the nation’s highways, to prevent the hoodlums from operating from the expressways.

To this end, the Public Relations Officer of the traditional rulers in the state, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, has appealed to the state government to provide adequate security for the monarchs in the state.

Odidiomo, who spoke after the meeting of the traditional rulers held at the palace of Owa Ale of Ikareland commended the state government and the security agents for the efforts made in securing the release of the abducted colleague.

Also speaking at the meeting, the state governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, promised to make the security and welfare of the traditional rulers a priority.

Akeredolu, who was represented by the Director of Chieftaincy Affairs in the Ondo State Ministry of Local Government and Chiefaincy Affairs, Mr. Adeyemi Adeyemo said, “Such incident will not occur again. We have taken measures to prevent recurrence.”