THE recently released abductees from Woro community in Kaiama Local Council of Kwara State have reportedly told relatives that a helicopter delivered money to their captors during their six-month captivity before they were set free.
This is contrary to Federal Government’s statement that they were rescued during a military operation without ransom payment.
Recall that security forces announced that over 300 abductees, made up of 163 Woro abductees during the February attack and 145 other victims from neighbouring Niger State, regained their freedom in what President Bola Tinubu’s aides described as Nigeria’s largest single-day hostage rescue operation.
Thirteen of the victims were said to have died during their six months captivity.
They were rescued from the Kainji Lake National Park area, following a joint operation involving the military, Police and counter-terrorism personnel in the operation described as intelligence-led security success.
Government provided little details about how the captives were rescued, but instead no ransom was paid.
However, it was recently reported that a relative who recently visited some of the freed victims said two members of his family were particularly surprised to hear government officials term their release as a successful security rescue with no ransom paid, insisting they witnessed a helicopter arrive while they were held captive and deliver money to the captors.
According to the report, the family member said “when they heard that the government was claiming they were rescued and that no money was paid, two of my family members were shocked.
“They said a helicopter came while they were in captivity and money was brought to the kidnappers. They saw it, but they were not allowed to touch the money.
“The kidnappers prevented them from going near it. This was a few days, like four to five days, before they were released.”
