Two kidnap victims escape after deadly clash among Kwara bandits

Two kidnapped persons managed to escape from a hideout of bandits operating from a wooded area in Ifelodun Local Government Area, Kwara South, following a row within the group that led to the kidnapping, according to several local and security reports.

The victims managed to escape from the camp on Thursday after there was a fight between the kidnappers following a disagreement.

Making use of the opportunity, the two victims managed to make a getaway from the hideout, moving through various villages in the area until they managed to reach safety.

Reports were made to Sahara Reporters by residents who were informed about the happenings in the area by the victims.

A security report to Central Post Nigeria said the two victims managed to escape the camp while there was pandemonium following fighting within the camp by the gang members.

“Two abductees escaped from the bandits’ den yesterday after an internal clash broke out among the kidnappers. They took advantage of the confusion and fled,” a security source said.

“They later passed through some communities in the area before reaching safety. Their accounts have also been corroborated by local sources.”

“Witness accounts and intelligence gathered after the incident suggest that the violent confrontation may have been triggered by disagreements over the sharing of proceeds from criminal activities, leadership disputes, or other internal rivalries that are common within organised kidnapping gangs,” the source said.

According to security sources, information that can be provided by the escapees can help significantly in attempts to dismember the kidnapping syndicate in the forests in parts of Kwara South and surrounding areas.

According to sources, the victims will offer useful information to the security agencies concerning the location of the camp, the size of the camp, number of the armed men in the camp, how they move around and logistics and many other useful information that can help the security agencies to plan a rescue mission or even raid the camp.

This development follows a series of security challenges in parts of Kwara South, which communities have continuously raised alarm concerning the activities of the kidnappers in the forested areas.

The security sources also say that information offered by the victims is some of the most useful intelligence that security agencies can get. This is because it helps the agencies to locate the criminals and know their modus operandi.

The authorities have continuously urged citizens who have credible intelligence about any criminal activity to report the same through legitimate security channels.