UNIABUJA: Kidnappers Requested For A Swap When Some Were Arrested - Victims
Faith Ukanwa
Nov 08, 2021
Some of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), kidnap victims have shared their bitter experiences during with their abductors.
READ ALSO: How a Catholic Priest Slumped and Died While Delivering Homily in Delta Church
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="630"] Rescued UNIABUJA kidnap victims[/caption]
READ ALSO: How Two-year-old conjoined twins successfully separated in a first-of-its-kind operation
Recall that on Tuesday, November 2, gunmen invaded the staff quarters of UNIABUJA abducting 6 persons.
READ ALSO: ABIA GUBER 2023: Gen. Ijioma Tour LGA's, Reveals Why He Should Be Given APGA Ticket
The FCT Police command on Friday, November 5, said it rescued all the victims and arrested suspects in a joint operation, after the kidnappers had demanded a N300m ransom. READ HERE
READ ALSO: "Ikwuano Locked Down For Alex OttiÔÇØ - Monday Ubani SAN Sends Strong Message To Opposition
Speaking to PUNCH, some of the rescued persons said they were made to trek for hours, soak garri with dirty water, and were treated like slaves.
A victim, Professor Joseph Obansa, Said;
READ ALSO: Finally Revealed: Why Buhari Sacked Agriculture, Power Ministers
"They made us walk over a long stretch, day and night, and when it's day time, they blindfolded us. On the first day, they fed us with garri with unclean water.
READ ALSO: Bloodbath At Wedding: Bandits Kill 13, Abduct Many In Midnight Attack In Kaduna Community
"The second day, they harvested yams from people's farms and roasted them. They gave us the yam to eat after they finished eating. We were fed like slaves.
READ ALSO: Mother's Day: Abia Government Liaison Officer Honours Women, Says Mothers Shape Future Leaders
"There was a time when I couldn't move again after trekking for a long time. They kicked and threatened to waste me if I didn't stand up. My son had to help me up. It was a very terrible experience; I never trekked continuously for that long in my life.ÔÇØ
READ ALSO: Ofuji Ndị Igbo Sets 2026 Agenda, Promises Greater Community Engagement
He noted that the abductors called for a swap after some of them (kidnappers) were arrested.
READ ALSO: DSS Is Starving Nnamdi Kanu As Punishment- Barr. Ejiofor Raises Alarm, Reveals Next Step
Obansa said, "They foresaw getting a ransom from us was not feasible. They said they were not interested in the ransom again. They said if they released their friends, they would release us or they would kill us. They freed us around 2am on Friday.ÔÇØ
Joseph's son, John, said he lost hope after the hoodlums demanded a huge ransom.He said he was happy he went with his father into the forest, adding that he (John) carried him (Joseph) after he was exhausted and the kidnappers threatened to kill him.
READ ALSO: Stop Paying Politicians Salaries, Use Fund To Fight Insecurity, Ndume Tells Buhari
"I thought the police had abandoned us, but they made some moves which eventually paid off,ÔÇØ he added.
READ ALSO: How a Catholic Priest Slumped and Died While Delivering Homily in Delta Church
Another victim, Sambo Mohammed, said he could not confirm if a swap was made by the police, but he overheard when negotiations were on.
READ ALSO: How Two-year-old conjoined twins successfully separated in a first-of-its-kind operation
He said, "I speak Hausa language well; it gave me the opportunity to interact and I became close to them. For this particular operation that they undertook, there were some people that sponsored and led them to this place.
READ ALSO: ABIA GUBER 2023: Gen. Ijioma Tour LGA's, Reveals Why He Should Be Given APGA Ticket
"They don't stay in a place; they pushed them from Kaduna and Zamfara states. Because there is no network, they decided to come to this area where network is available.
READ ALSO: "Ikwuano Locked Down For Alex OttiÔÇØ - Monday Ubani SAN Sends Strong Message To Opposition
"They are not from here. I can confirm that, they even told us that they would move us to Zamfara if they did not get their ransom.ÔÇØ
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Josephine Adeh, said neither was a swap made nor ransom paid to rescue the victims.
READ ALSO: Finally Revealed: Why Buhari Sacked Agriculture, Power Ministers
She said, "The victims were rescued through the joint efforts of all security operatives in FCT. We engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel and arrested eight.ÔÇØ
Related Stories
Bloodbath At Wedding: Bandits Kill 13, Abduct Many In Midnight Attack In Kaduna Community
"Ikwuano Locked Down For Alex OttiÔÇØ - Monday Ubani SAN Sends Strong Message To Opposition
Mother's Day: Abia Government Liaison Officer Honours Women, Says Mothers Shape Future Leaders
Why ICPC Is Prosecuting Mike Ozekhome Over a London Property Deal That Has Shaken Nigeria's Legal Circle | READ DETAILS
Ofuji Ndị Igbo Sets 2026 Agenda, Promises Greater Community Engagement
How a Catholic Priest Slumped and Died While Delivering Homily in Delta Church
""
— Faith Ukanwa