How I Drank Water Meant for Cattle, Trekked for Four Days in the Bush - Kidnapped Ondo Monarch Narrates

 

The Oniyani of Iyani Akoko in Akoko Northwest Local Government area of Ondo State,  Oba Sunday Joel Daodu has narrated the experience he suffered in the hands of his abductors before gaining freedom.

 

While speaking yesterday, the monarch who described his four days experience in the camp of the abductors  as harrowing, said  he was made to drink water meant for cows, sleeping on the bare floor and trekking for four days in the bush.

 

Acording to a report by Leadership, Oba Daodu who was kidnapped by some unknown gunmen last weekend on Owo-Ikare Expressway and was released at Ogbese in Akure North Local Government Area of the state after four days in the captivity, said spending the Easter period in the den of kidnappers is not an experience he would pray for anyone, even  his enemies.

 

The monarch who was kidnapped alongside his second in command, High Chief Samuel Olugbenga Giwa, disclosed that the incident happened exactly 4:30 pm on Sunday saying he left his hometown about 4.pm on Sunday on his way to Akure when they suddenly ran to the abductors at a spot in Oba Akoko.

 

He said hoodlums whom he first thought were armed robbers were shooting at close range and was forced to stop.

According to him, one of the young men shot the tyre of his car and drag him and a chief who was on the wheels at the time into bush.

 

Oba Daodu said, “We drank water from the pond where cattle drink water. We slept on rocks and were made to trek long distance during our captivity.”

 

 

His words ‘’We were in the bush climbing hills sleeping on top of rocks . it was terrible . I don’t even want my enemy to experience to pass through. i don’t know there was Easter. ’Their leader even asked me to pray for him so that he can quit the job’’.

 

According to him, he with his co-abductees interacted a lot with the kidnappers and they disclosed that they were forced to do the job because of the bad economic situation in the country.

 

The Chief who was abducted alongside the monarch,  Samuel Olugbenga Giwa, the Shaba of Iyani , while thanking God  for their lives said, he was the one driving the vehicle on the day saying the experience in the hands of the kidnappers was indeed a harrowing one.

 

Chief Giwa, said he was accompanying the monarch to Akure on the said day and was also the one driving in when they ran into the kidnappers all of a sudden.

 

According to him, the men were wearing mask all through but latter 4 took off the mask after they became more acquitted with them

While calling on federal government to provide adequate security for traditional rulers in the country by attaching security personnel to them for their safety,  the monarch also called for the recruitment of more able bodied Nigerians into the police and also increase the number of the police checks points on the nation highways.

 

Similarly, the tradition ruler has called on the parents to see that they instill good morals in their children by giving them religious education and also inculcating discipline in them.

 

The monarch also thanked the people of Iyani, his home for their support and prayers during his days in captivity and the state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and all the security outfits in the state for responding promptly to the situation.

 

The monarchs under the auspices of De-130 Krowns Club, has condemned the kidnap of one of them. The monarch at a meeting held at the palace of Owa Ale of Ikare Akoko, in the Akoko North-East Local Government Area of State, commended the roles played by the state government in the release of the abducted monarch.

 

Speaking with journalists after the meeting of the traditional rulers, the Owa Ale of Ikareland, Oba Kolapo Adegbite-Adedoyin and the Olu of Igbokoda in Ilaje, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo said there was a need for the government to ensure adequate security and welfare of the Obas in the state.

 

Oba Adedoyin said, “It is very unfortunate that Obas had to be kidnapped by men of the underworld, it is even a taboo in Yorubaland for anybody, no matter highly placed to lay his hand on an Oba not to talk of kidnapping him.”

 

He said too much of religious beliefs had taken away traditional powers of Obas hence the reason for them to be vulnerable to attacks like kidnapping.

 

Oba Odidiomo insisted that the selection, appointment and installation of Obas in Yorubaland should be taken away from the government and return exclusively to traditionalists and kingmakers.

 

His words “The reason for unnecessary attacks on obas was due to modernisation, you will even see that the installation system has changed compare with the olden days. It is unfortunate that obas now call themselves evangelists, Reverend or Alhaji, some obas go to night parties. This is against the tradition and whoever perpetrated in such an act will soon see the wrath of God.”

While commending the security agencies for their proactiveness in the release of the kidnapped traditional ruler, Oba Adegbite-Adedoyin said the governor should see the kidnap incident as a challenge, saying ” any assault on any traditional ruler is an assault on the state government.”

 

Also in a speech, the president of the Obas and Aladeokun of Alade-Idanre, Oba Olusegun Akinbiola appealed to the government of Akeredolu to set in motion whereby every Oba in Ondo State is given adequate security both nights and days and that security should be funded by the state government.