A farmer and furniture maker from Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, Gonoh Michael, has recounted his harrowing 12-day ordeal after being abducted by armed men while working on his farm.
Michael, who was kidnapped on October 28, 2025, said he was weeding his farm when nine armed men emerged from the bush, seized him, and later abducted five other farmers. He said the victims were marched deep into a vast forest stretching between Okpella and Okene.
“We had no food for the first three days. We slept on bare ground, cold and weak,” he said, describing the conditions as “endless pain.”
The captors, he added, beat the victims, threatened them, and forced them to call family members for ransom. They were released after relatives and community members contributed N4.5 million, crates of malt and milk, and new backpacks.
Michael said he and the other victims are now receiving medical care. While he is gradually recovering, he warned that kidnappings in Okpella are escalating, with incidents reported almost daily.
He called on the Edo State Government and security agencies to urgently deploy more troops and work with local vigilantes to tackle the crisis. “People are afraid to go to their farms. The government must act now,” he said.
Michael’s hope, he added, is to see peace return to Okpella so residents can resume their normal lives.
