A member of the National Youth Service Corps, Rofiat Lawal, who was abducted along the Benin-Ore Expressway, has narrated how her abductors threatened to force her into marriage and take her to Sokoto if her family failed to pay ransom.
Rofiat was kidnapped last Tuesday while travelling from Edo State to her place of primary assignment in Oyo State. The abductors initially demanded N20 million but later reduced it to N5 million after negotiations. She was eventually released after her family paid N1.1 million.
In an interview on Sunday, Rofiat disclosed that six out of ten passengers in the vehicle she boarded were kidnapped and led into the bush, where they spent four days. The abductors, suspected to be Fulani, seized their phones, money, and other valuables. One of them reportedly wore her NYSC uniform during the captivity.
“They took six of us into the bush, searched us, and collected our valuables. They threatened to marry me and take me to Sokoto if my family didn’t pay ransom,” she said.
She added that the captives trekked for seven hours on the first day and were only given garri occasionally during their time in captivity.
Rofiat appealed to the NYSC authorities to grant her time to rest and recover from the traumatic experience.
The NYSC State Coordinator and her Local Government Inspector have reportedly reached out to check on her condition.
