ODD WORLD: Our kidnappers Didn’t Feed Us Well, Orekoya Kids Narrates Their Ordeal

In this report, ARUKAINO UMUKORO speaks with Mr. Leke Orekoya and his children after their release from kidnappers den. The three children—six-year-old Demola, four-year-old Damola, and 11-month-old Aderomola — were abducted by their nanny, Mary Akinloye, after 24 hours on the job. Akinloye (whose real name is Funmilayo Adeyemi) has since been arrested by the police
Six-year-old Demola speaks
What’s your name?
My name is Demola. I am six years old.
Where were you taken to?

Aunty took us to a new house. They put us in a bag, and put us inside the car.
Was it a nice house?
No, it was not fine.
How does it look like?
I don’t know. I can’t remember it.
What class are you in?
I’m in Primary One, Basic One.
Did you see any bad people there?
No.
What did they do to you there?
Nothing, they did not do anything.
Did they feed you well?
They did not feed us well, we ate by ourselves.
What were you been fed with?
They gave us rice, and indomie.
Did they put meat in your food when you were served?
Yes, they put meat in only the rice.
Did they give you the drinks you like?
No, they did not. They gave us water. We drank malt. They did not give us biscuits and sweets.
Did you have good clothes to wear there?
No.
Did you have friends to play with there?
It was only Damola (younger brother) that I played with. I don’t want to talk again.
Four-year-old Damola speaks
What’s your name?
My name is Damola. I am four years old.
Did you like the house you were taken to?
Yes… no, there were mosquitoes there.
When ‘aunty’ came to pick you, where did she say she was taking you and your brothers to?
She said she was going to take us to our new house. The house is very far. They put us inside bag.
What did they give you to eat?
They were giving us tea and bread, and rice, and indomie.
How many aunties and uncles did you see there?
I saw five aunties and uncles. They were five.
Did they give you clothes to wear?
No.
Where were you sleeping, on the mat or on the floor?
I was sleeping on the bed.
Is it like your bed at home?
No. It was not a big bed.
Were you and your brother Demola sleeping on the same bed in that house?
Damola was sleeping in another bed. Romola (the 11-month-old) was sleeping in the other bed with our aunty.
Were you the only children there with them?
No, Bobo mi (nickname for 11-month-old), Demola and me. There was no chicken (to eat) there.
Will you want to go back there again?
No, I don’t want to.
Were you bitten by mosquitoes there?
Yes, plenty mosquitoes. When I came back, I went to the hospital and slept on the bed.
Were you happy to see mummy and daddy again?
Yes, I was happy. I will follow only mummy and daddy, and I will stay with mummy and daddy.