.png)
By Madu Obi
A staff of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Mr Linus Chukwuma has recounted his ordeal in the hands of kidnappers suspected to be Fulani herdsmen in Anambra State.
Chukwuma was kidnapped at Ukwulu, in Dunukofia local government area of the state on Friday last week and released on Sunday evening after his family and his friends contributed money to pay the ransom.
Narrating his experience, Chukwuma said: "I was with my close friend and colleague, Tony Anigbobu in his Sienna car, along with another of our female colleague driving back home from our office which is less than two minutes drive to the Abba/Ukpo junction.
"Unknown to us, three Fulani hoodlums who had perfect plans to attack us, jumped out from the bush at Ukwulu, with their leader brandishing AK 47, while the other two had a stick and a matchet."
"Their leader flagged us down, and the two boys hurriedly jumped into our vehicle and dragged Tony and I out of the car and took us into the nearby forest. As they jumped into the car, I threw my phone to the floor of the car before they approached me."
"That was how we began our journey into the kidnapper's den to the thick Ukwulu forests. We walked for more than 30 minutes inside the forest before we stopped and were blindfolded with clothes and our hands tied as well. We were beaten like common criminals and asked not to cry, otherwise they would waste us."
"One of them saw my army-like coloured underwear and accused me of being a military personal. Each turn I took to exonerate myself from not being a soldier resulted in severe manhandling with a promise that they will waste my life even after collecting ransom."
"I kept begging them that I have never touched a gun in my life, not to talk of joining the military and all my pleas fell on deaf ears."
"Around 8pm the same Friday, they moved us away from the forest to another location where we spent the first night in captivity. But before we slept, they asked Tony and I to call our family and friends to arrange for N60 million ransom each, or they will use the money for our funerals."
"At that time I was devastated and in a state of shock that I didn't remember any person's phone number to call, except my elder brother."
"Because I was not with my phone, I had limited contacts to place calls to, and request for any form of assistance. I remember speaking with my friend who has always been supportive of me, and told him to inform my other friends of my ordeal."
"They tied my face and hands during the day and untie me at dusk, while my hands were permanently tied during my days at the den."
"The emotional and psychological trauma can better be imagined than experienced and I cannot even wish my enemies what we passed through in the hands of these criminals."
"I sincerely appreciate my friends for their tremendous support and solidarity."
Meanwhile, those who commented on the platform where Chukwuma narrated his experience have called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to rid the state of the increasing criminal activities in the state."
"Those people did not start terrorizing that road today; it's just that it has become more often these days."
"These people rape our women and men alike. People in that area no longer visit their farms.
"I don't want to believe that Governor Soludo has not heard stories of the atrocities of these people. He needs to act fast.
"If he is afraid that the powers that rule Nigeria may come against him, he can use the anti-open grazing law which the House of Assembly passed into law during the Willie Obiano-led administration, to take these people out of our midst," one of those who commented said.
Comentarios