Posted by By Damola Ogundimu on
The abducted former chairman of Ikosi Ejinrin Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Hon. Ganiyu Adio Akintola, released last Thursday, by his captors after 19 days in captivity, has narrated his ordeals to P.M.News.
The abducted former chairman of Ikosi Ejinrin Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Hon. Ganiyu Adio Akintola, released last Thursday, by his captors after 19 days in captivity, has narrated his ordeals to P.M.News.
Akintola said after he was kidnapped from his home, he was taken to a jetty in Ikosi-Ejinrin where the kidnappers had a motor boat waiting.
'For seven hours, we travelled on water, until we got to a creek which I was made to understand is sandwiched between Warri and Port Harcourt.
'When we got to the creek, they took me to a very deep bush where I met their chairman, who told me someone had paid them N25 million for my assassination. But if I can pay a ransom of N50 million, they will not kill me and they will return me to my family. I told them I am not even worth N5 million,' he said.
Hon. Akintola said part of the allegations levelled against him was that his profile as a politician was rising and some people were not happy about it. 'This means that my kidnap was politically motivated,' he added.
On how he was fed by the militants for 19 days in their camp, Akintola said: 'Our food is yellow garri and palmoil, and we eat it with what they call pepper soup, which is pepper mixed with oil. The rice is also terrible as there is no soup, but they mixed pepper and oil together. The only good thing they gave me that I enjoyed is grape fruit.'
On how much was paid to secure his freedom, Akintola refused to mention the amount. He confirmed that he was released to his first son, Babatunde Akintola, at Outland Hotel, Warri, last Thursday.
He appealed to the Lagos State government to come to his aid as the family had to sell his land and shares to meet the demand of the kidnappers. 'The state should rehabilitate me,' he added.