Tension as kidnappers invade Abuja

The series of kidnappings in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have led to a palpable fear among residents. In two weeks, more than 20 people have been kidnapped in some communities across Abaji, Kwali and Kuje area councils. No arrest has been made by security agencies while sources among families of some victims said they […]

The series of kidnappings in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have led to a palpable fear among residents. In two weeks, more than 20 people have been kidnapped in some communities across Abaji, Kwali and Kuje area councils.

No arrest has been made by security agencies while sources among families of some victims said they paid huge sums of money before their relatives were released.

The kidnappers leave deaths, tears, and misery in their wake. Among such communities is Pegi, an urban slum about 14 kilometres from Kuje city. Nine people, including a 12-year-old boy, were abducted along the deplorable road to the community, popularly called Bush path.

Mrs. Bola Ayejumo gets to her house in Pegi from the office at 10 pm. Since the abduction, she now leaves her office within the city centre at 4 pm. She ensures she gets home before 6 pm.

“We are living in serious fear and it is only God that can rescue us. After the kidnapping, another man was robbed at gunpoint within the neighbourhood. I am always on the lookout; we have had pockets of security challenges like handbag snatching, armed robbery or burglary but the abduction was the height of it.

While the nine people abducted had been reunited with their families, others had taken their place with the kidnappers.

Victims made to trek long hours without food, water

Some of the victims, who would not want their names in print, spoke to Daily Trust on Sunday. They said they were made to trek for about four hours the night they were abducted. They walked through the forest on foot until they got to a hilltop, where they were bound at midnight. They were fed once a day and water were in short supply.

“Nobody was interested in the food. Who eats gladly in captivity? We were all trying to do all we could to be freed,” one of the victims said.

“All of us, except the 12-year-old boy, was tortured and made to say the amount our people would be capable of paying. This happened after they had asked us our bank account balance,” the victim recollected.

“On Wednesday, they asked us to give them the number of someone who would be our representative. The person would be in charge of the negotiation. The communication was regular with our representatives. Then a partially learned person came around. He redirected the negotiation. While others were beating and threatening to kill us, he asked calmly how much we could afford. He was not the torturing type and presented himself like he was there to help us,” the victim said.

“I left the place on Friday; I left six people behind. They took a 10 minutes trek with us on another bush path different from the one we came in. They gave us the option of where we could come out. They mentioned places like Lafia, Abaji, Kwali but in the long run, we found ourselves in Pegi after walking for about four hours,” he said, adding that he was happy to be reunited with his family.

While he left, another victim among the six people still with the kidnappers said their ordeal was heightened after the first set of people were released.

“We began the second phase of the journey; they took us to another place, further into the bush where they said they were going to kill us if our people did not come with the ransom. At some point, they said they would sell us to ritualists. The trekking was increased. We walked barefooted in the mud, swamp, rain and sand in the forest. We slept in the open, just as we were doing before the first set of people left.

“They cut tree branches to beat us so that we would convince our people because of the torture to bring a certain amount of money. The beating would come unannounced because we were blindfolded.

“We trek at midnight and during the day. We were so exhausted, but if we fail to walk, we would be beaten seriously. That was the routine for five days. We were moving constantly. They let us rest for about 30 minutes when they were tired. We could walk for about three hours at a stretch,” he said, adding that there was an elderly man among them.

“They raided several villages on their way, killed one man and took his children. Six people were with them when I was released,” one of the victims said.

Kidnappers demand N17m ransom for abducted men in Abaji, Kwali

Among the six people were two children kidnapped at Yebu community in Kwali Area Council. They were the children whom their father was killed by the kidnappers as recollected by one of the Kuje victims. They had demanded a ransom of N5m for their release.

A relative said the family had been in disarray following the death of their father. He said, “Who will go and source for the ransom since their father is dead. It is painful, and who knows what the two children are going through in the hands of the kidnappers.”

Also, the families of two persons abducted in Abaji have been contacted. They have been told to raise N12 million for their release.

A family member of one of the kidnapped victims, who preferred anonymity, said the kidnappers made the demand on Wednesday. They called one of the victims’ relative and demanded N7 million for the release of Murtala Maji Nasara.

“The entire family is devastated because we do not know how and where to raise N7m from,” he said.

‘Their leader called himself IG Kidnapper’

One of the ‘representatives’ of the Kuje victims encountered the kidnappers having gone with an undisclosed sum of money for the release of a victim.

They were first told to go to Abaji, and also bring along foodstuff.  They waited for one hour before being told to go to Rubochi.

“We were in Rubochi and waited for another one hour before we were contacted and told to go to another community. On our way, motorcyclists started turning back that kidnappers were on the road. We alighted and started trekking. We told them we were going to see the kidnappers that they had our relatives, but they did not help us.

“We trekked for about 15 minutes before some motorcyclists helped us to a rift where the kidnappers came from the bush and also took the motorcyclists. After they collected the money, they gave the motorcyclists, the victims and the other representatives N500 each. When they discovered I could ride a motorcycle, I was made to trek further into the bush where one of the kidnappers said I should also be kidnapped.

“I sat under the tree for about one hour before a motorcycle was brought to me. The man, who appeared to be their leader, told me if anybody asked where I got the motorcycle, I should tell them ‘IG kidnapper’ gave it to me. I took my relative and left,” he said.

The FCT Police Command said it has put in place adequate measures to strengthen the security in the capital city and its suburbs; as such members of the public should remain calm.

Speaking with one of our reporters, the command’s spokesman, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, added that the command has also reviewed its policing strategy to beef up security across the FCT to contain the emerging crime.

He also said the command is collaborating with other security agencies to address the situation, noting that there is an ongoing operation at some identified black spots in the areas under the command.

DSP Manzah added that the command was also engaging stakeholders in the community and that members of the public should continue to support the police by providing information promptly, noting that policing is a collaborative effort.

When asked if there have been arrests so far, regarding the kidnappings in the FCT, the spokesman said he would not want to “pre-empt the ongoing operation,” adding however that he would “provide details at an appropriate time.”