“They had demanded N10 million and my people cannot even raise N1 million, they negotiated ransom down to N100, 000, but my people could not raise the money. “They had told me that I will be killed today, Wednesday, but God intervened, I thank Him, and I am so proud of Nigerian military, ” Yinusa said.

Joint Task Force (JTF) said the operation was conducted at Brass and Ekeremor local government areas of Bayelsa.

Rear Admiral Suleman Apochi, Commander of JTF, said that the troops recovered a cache of arms and ammunition in the rescue operation carried out at the militants camps.

He, however, said that one of the victims held hostage by the kidnappers sustained gunshot wounds during a shootout with the kidnappers, who later abandoned their camps “due to the superior firepower of the troops”.

He said the troops rescued the injured victim and was receiving medical attention at a medical facility and was in a stable condition. Apochi also said that the military would continue with its clearance operation in Southern Ondo to rid the area of criminals.

“We were vindicated when the Ondo State Governor visited the creeks in Southern Ondo following reports that troops had sacked residents and destroyed houses. “It was evident that no houses were torched as erroneously reported and that the governor was able to see things for himself.

“We are after the criminals and we are raiding their hideouts, therefore, we need the support of the people to isolate the criminals in the ongoing operation,” the commander said.