By Victor Kwame Sampong
From all indications, negotiations with the kidnappers were progressing and advancing. News filtered that our guys would regain their freedom by Saturday night if their demands were met.
The criminals provided an account and a million Naira was paid into it; down from the Eight Million Naira (N8,000,000) they had asked for on the first day.
However, things took a dramatic twist when we got word that the guys would remain in their custody because the ransom didn’t get to them. The account they provided belonged to a policeman they had earlier kidnapped and his family had gone to his bank to block the account. So as it stood, ‘the money don die for aza’.
The abductors thus demanded a fresh ransom to be paid into a different account before they’d go through with the release. Our people argued that we worked our asses off to raise that fee and since this latest setback wasn’t from our end but theirs, they should reconsider and lower their demands.
After much back and forth, they agreed to let them go, but we must send in Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200,000). Na later we understood why sha.
Meanwhile, we reconvened at our meeting point on Sunday to try to ginger ourselves for a fresh round of donations. Luckily and with a sense of duty and determination, we reached the target and the money was sent to them. After confirming receipt of the funds, they requested for another Twenty Thousand Naira (N20,000) as transport fare for the victims.
By Sunday evening, we got word that they were now free, four of our guys and the policeman. A good Samaritan who claimed to have heard of the incident picked them up somewhere along the East-West Road and brought them to Choba, where members of our group rushed down in convoy to welcome them.
The guys looked weary and unwell due to the ill-treatment meted out to them in captivity. They were taken to a hotel in GRA to clean up and rest.
We later got to find out from the female victim, Joy, that her accounts were raided. She was head of our daily group contributions, of which I was part. That money was taken, alongside hers, which amounted to about Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000). Her sister also paid some money to them on her behalf, about Four Hundred Naira (N400,000).
We later heard that the kidnappers wanted to release ONLY Joy and Emma because they believed that the initial One Million Naira was sent by their people. Then since they had gotten something from Joy and her sister, she too should go. This was before they realized that the money was in a restricted account though. Nonetheless, Joy refused the offer we were told. She instead suggested that Emma be released alongside Elijah. But (un)fortunately, that deal didn’t go through.
The other three guys (Emma, Promise and Elijah) also had their funds taken from their accounts as well. Emma was smart enough to have left his iPhone in the car at the time of their abduction on Friday night. He is a business owner and if the criminals had discovered this aspect of him, wahala for pass Okro soup own. The rest had their phones with them, so e follow for wetin the criminals achieve too.
The most shocking part of this was how the kidnappers managed to retrieve the One Million Naira (N1,000,000) we sent earlier ‘wey bin die for aza’. We were told that the policeman was beaten and his bank’s customer service was called, he answered a few security questions and regained access to his account. Na so dem wipe the money comot before tori get k-leg again.
Well, the good thing is that we had them returned safely, including the policeman who they met in captivity. Sometimes, these situations don’t usually have a happy ending, even after the demands are met.
The guys were taken for medical checkups, and food and drinks were provided for them to regain some strength, having been away from civilization for some days. Some sustained injuries as a result of the ‘mending’ they were subjected to in camp.
Their families came around to welcome their loved ones and take them back home later.
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In subsequent episodes, we shall be speaking with the victims as they recount their experiences before and during their abduction.
Stay tuned !!!
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Meanwhile, I need a new car to continue my Bolt Driving business. Is there any plug here? Hit me up, please