In the sphere of wanton, dare devilish, harrowing ordeals, unmerciful and gruesome killings of kidnapped victims by Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen and Bandits, that have become daily occurrences in Nigeria, A victim, Ayodeji Akinwande by stroke of luck and divine intervention lives to tell his ordeals and that of his family in the hands of kidnappers who tortured and eventually killed his father and follow suit to get him also at all cost.
He narrates the incident of May 26th, 2021 that persistently instil utmost fears and unsecured aura in him and his family up till this present moment
“My father, Pa Ojo Akinwande,73yrs of age,has been a well known farmer of cashew crops, cocoa and edible crops in Ilupeju Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
His farm, located some few kilometers away from the Ilupeju town, has always been his second home because he built a small hut where he used to relax after ditching instructions to workers helping him to do farm work.
Since his going and coming to farm using his motorcycle, he has never encountered any mishap along the farm routes.
” Although, the news of kidnappings, farmers-:herders clashes, farms destructions and sudden disappearance have become rife in our community. There was an attempt by some bandits to kidnap me in 2018, but God saved me. my father has been cautious enough to always go to the farm around 9am in the morning and usually return by 3 or 4 pm.
“Inspire of this caution, I received a call from home(Ekiti) , one of my cousins,Idowu Abegunde called me. I was in Lagos then, that my dad had not been since May 24th, After five hours of receiving the call from Idowu Abegunde, I instructed him to go to Police Station to report.
At the Station , he was told that after 24 hours if my father didn’t return home, he would then be declared missing.
It was discovered three day s after that he did not return home by the normal time, 5, 6,:30pm,By May 29th, 2021 We became worried. I was called by people at home that Pa Akinwande has not been.seen. It was then that it was dawn on us that my father has been kidnapped.
‘ We couldn’t sleep and in the mid of the anxiety, just some few minutes to 1:00am, My phone ranged with a strange number and I answered only to hear the sorrowful sobbing of my father begging me to save him. He had barely completed his words when I heard the voice of a man, a language I could not understand. The line was abruptly cut and called again in smattering english that they have taken my father and he has been with them for 3 days and #20m million must be paid to ensure his freedom
The phone was given to my father,, I heard his groaning and crying begging me to give them what they wanted so that he won’t die in the hands of the kidnappers.The line was switched off again.
” Second day,They called again. They warned me not to try inform the Police and if I attempt it, it would be damning.
” I was crying and pleading to the kidnappers not to torture my father again that I would do their biddings. On the fifth day, they demanded for #20m ransom.I begged that there was no way to raise such amount, they were hell – bent that the #20 million must be paid within seven days.
” Whenever they called, they always put our conversations on speaker so that I could hear the trauma that my father was in. Since I didn’t keep money anywhere, I started running Helter skelter, soliciting from family, friends and associates. We eventuality raised #9millon.
” The kidnappers were the ones that usually called me. I was directed to the location and they added that I am being monitored and I should not informed security agencies.
” I dropped the #9 million at the location described to me after series of troubles. But, my father was not released. In the evening of that day, I was called again and they gave me ultimatum, that I must provide the remaining #11m before they would set my father free.
I ran helter-skelter as they always called, threatening me. I reported the matter to the Police again because It could not handle and no money as well.
“After some weeks, they called, my phone was on speaker.My wife and children were with me, they heard the kidnappers voices,threats. They became more fearful as a result of the ordeals we were going through, it was in the middle of this conversation with the kidnappers that we suddenly heard gun shots Gboa! Gboa! I and my children shouted Yee! The children held tightly to their mother, shivering and crying.The phone was cut off. Within few seconds, the kidnappers called again and informed me that they have killed my father!
Few days after, they intensified on the threats, insisting that unless the #11 million is provided, they would come after me and my family.
” I was afraid and then I reported to the Police in Lagos, but the Police couldn’t do much.
” My fears doubled, we lived in fear and always afraid to go out every time because of the intensity of their threats,I was afraid that the kidnappers had succeeded in obtaining details of my residence and movements from my father while he was in their custody”He concluded.
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