The Nigerian Police have again failed to protect residents of the country from kidnappings.
A 52-year-old Canadian, Kyliuk Morris explained how policemen in Ogun State delivered his N2.5m ransom paid to his kidnappers to regain his freedom.
Narrating his ordeal, Morris explained that he was abducted by the hoodlums at Fidiwo, in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, when on his way to Ibadan, Oyo State.
He claimed to have spent six days in the kidnappers’ den, forced to eat eba and drink dirty water.
Morris explained that he was travelling with his wife to fix his car when the two gunmen shot at his car, which made him to drive into a ditch.
He noted that when his wife tried to escape to get help, the kidnappers shot at her, while he was led to a bush.
“I spent six days in the den of the kidnappers. They beat me up, while my wife ran around to raise the ransom they demanded,” he added.
Morris said he was forced to call his sister in Canada who provided the ransom before he regained his freedom.
He said, “A policeman, who collected the ransom, paid the kidnappers to get me released from my abductors.”
Morris said, “A policeman assigned from Abuja gave my wife a telephone number to call an officer from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Ogun State.
“Aside from the ransom, they (police) asked my wife to give them N20,000 as transportation fare. They said they risked their lives to get me out.
“I want the government to be aware of what happened to me. The Nigerian government has been pushing for foreign investors to come, especially for agriculture and yet, there is no security; absolute zero security.
“I am not calling for a special treatment because I am a Canadian. I want people to be aware of what is happening. I just did through personal experience.
“If they (the police) have a job to do, they should do it. I think government at all levels should hold the police responsible for what they are hired for.
“If someone is kidnapped, the police should do their job. My wife went to see them, but they made no effort. My wife told them the exact place where I was; nothing was done. They dragged their feet.”
However, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the Canadian’s abduction and release, but denied the allegation of being part of the ransom payment.
“He was rescued; what he said is impossible, who is that kidnapper that will come and collect ransom from the police?
“It is not possible because the police have been campaigning against people paying ransom to kidnappers.
“We are not aware of any ransom deal. What we know is that he was kidnapped and rescued by the police,” the police spokesman said.