“Tied and Prepared for Sacrifice – Man Shares Harrowing Escape from Ritual Killing to Slavery”

On January 17, 2023, Henry Edobor Okunrobo, a 47-year-old horticulturist from the Obadore area in Lagos, endured a traumatic experience that changed his life permanently. What began as an ordinary day turned into horror when he was abducted while looking for food.His kidnappers planned to use him as a human sacrifice to the gods. Continue Reading>>>

However, fate took a turn when they decided he was unsuitable due to missing teeth. Rather than being sacrificed, he was sold into slavery.Okunrobo, speaking to Vanguard, recalled, “Had I known that stepping out that day would lead to my abduction… I would have stayed indoors.” He resisted during the abduction, which led to severe assaults, including punches to his mouth that knocked out three of his front teeth.

This injury ultimately saved his life, as his captors later told him he was “incomplete” and unfit for sacrifice.After being rejected by two ritualists in Ogun State, Okunrobo’s captors chose to sell him instead. He was sold to a farmer who operated a large farm with other enslaved people.Meanwhile, his family and friends in Lagos were frantically searching for him. They filed a missing person report at the Igando Police Station and visited hospitals and police stations, hoping to find him.

Months passed without news, and hope began to fade. His family eventually held a wake in his memory, believing he was dead.After one year and nine months in captivity, Okunrobo made a miraculous return. “I appeared like a ghost,” he described. Once back, he recounted his experience to Saturday Vanguard, explaining the origin of his troubles.”My name is Henry Edobor Okunrobo, but people know me as Epa 1 of Obadore,” he began. Continue Reading>>>

A strong advocate for political change during the 2023 presidential elections in Nigeria, Okunrobo had gained attention for his support of Labour Party candidate Peter Obi. His outspoken support attracted both supporters and opposition.On the night of his abduction, after a day of campaigning, Okunrobo noticed suspicious movements from a black SUV. “Masked men… ordered, ‘get in the car now or you die here,’” he recalled.

He tried to raise an alarm but was overpowered and taken away without anyone noticing.While in captivity, Okunrobo was held for seven days in an isolated location, facing the threat of sacrifice. “I was tied up, ready for sacrifice, yet they fed me three times a day,” he explained. He learned his fate from another captive who revealed the grim plan.After being moved between various locations and facing continuous threats, Okunrobo eventually managed to escape. Continue Reading>>>

When he returned home, he was reunited with friends who had believed he was dead. “The reunion with my friends felt like a miracle,” he said.The ordeal left deep impacts; on returning, he discovered his wife and children had relocated to Benin City, assuming he had died. His flower business had withered in his absence, leaving him without a livelihood.

Despite the emotional and financial toll, Okunrobo has become a symbol of resilience. He has strengthened his commitment to human rights and social justice advocacy in Nigeria. “The trauma… may be with me forever,” he said, “but my voice is now stronger than ever.”