Grief and painful memories filled the air as police operatives recovered two decomposing bodies from a forest on the Benin-Lagos Expressway in Edo State.
The victims were among several people kidnapped last month from Ekiadolor community by a notorious gang operating on the Benin-Lagos and Benin-Akure Highways.
A survivor, whose 66-year-old mother was killed in captivity, recounted the terrifying days spent in the forest.
According to her, four families were held hostage and forced to move through the forest at night while the kidnappers rested during the day.
She said the gang separated the elderly, a woman and a 15-year-old boy from the others before shooting them.
“I could hear my mother praying before she stopped breathing,” she said tearfully.
The family later paid N11 million ransom before regaining freedom.
Police said the breakthrough came after operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit engaged the kidnappers in a gun battle, leading to the arrest of one suspect while others escaped with gunshot wounds.
