“Police Rescued Us From Our Abductors Untrue,” Kidnapped Victim Reveals
The menace of banditry in Kaduna State is now a booming business, though a novel source of threat to the very existence of residents of the state, especially in Giwa Local Government Area. Giwa LGA has become a hub where the nefarious business of kidnappings, banditry and paying, collection of ransom, is now the order of the day. There have been several incidents linked to this locality. Precisely, on March 13, 2021, one Mr Anthony Okafor left Sokoto Enroute Zaria on a mission to pay the ransom of about N1.6 million on behalf of his friend, Mr Henry who was among the passengers on a luxurious bus belonging to Ifeanyichukwu Motors Ltd, that was abducted sometimes in Feb. 2021. Unknown to him, it was a journey that was going to take him 17 days before he would be able to see his family again. According to Mr Anthony, he got to the location somewhere in Galadimawa village in Giwa LGA, the hideout of the bandits. He called the phone number given to him and after some time a man with an AK-47 rifle came to meet him on a bike and asked him to follow him. He initially refused, but after he was threatened he hopped on the bike and rode with the man to their destination. On arrival, he was immediately chained together with the other victims numbering about 32 including a female corp member who has been in captivity for about 36days. Anthony was told that his fate lies in the hands of his family if they are able to pay his ransom. Meanwhile, they collected the money he came with and subsequently freed the said Mr Henry that same night. That night marked the beginning of his ordeal in the hands of these evil men. They were fed parboiled rice with palm oil, a quantity of food meant for two was shared by about 15 adults, without water. They wore the same clothing and were not allowed to take their bath. They were made to sleep in the open at night still in chains and on the bare ground. Every other day, in the morning, some herdsmen were invited to come and give them “shayi”, a local hot tea in Hausa parlance. They were subjected to flogging with a horsewhip, to the entertainment of their “Ogas”. Meanwhile, his wife and kinsmen back in Sokoto were making frantic efforts to secure his release by running around to raise the ransom. They eventually succeeded in doing so and then made a transfer to an account given to them. Mr. Anthony Okafor was among the eight persons the police in Kaduna State claimed to have rescued from the hands of bandits on March 30. After a ransom of N1m was paid on his behalf, he along with 7 others whose ransom were also paid were released at the dead of the night and escorted to a location where they were left to their fate. They walked throughout the night in the bush until they found themselves in a town, asked for the nearest police station and reported themselves there. They were then subjected to thorough medical treatment and then fed before taking their statements and thereafter allowed to go.
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