MY EXPERIENCE IN THE KIDNAPPERS' DEN.

My name is ThankGod Okuk, I left for Abuja on Thursday 17th December 2020 in order to attend a friend's wedding on Friday and Saturday.

On Sunday 20th I boarded Big Joe bus to Benin city, getting to Ekpoma, the driver told us that he won't be going to Benin because it was already past 7pm, so some of us took our belongings and took a Sienna bus going to Benin, after Ehor we were attacked by a gang of Fulani herdsmen who shot sporadically into the air, after taking all our money and phones from us, the leader of the team then asked us to match into the bush, it was at this time that I knew that it was not just robbery but kidnapping.

After few minuite into the bush, the leader of the gang asked who was the driver of the vehicle, the driver identified himself, he was given a thorough beating after which he was allowed to go.

In the process of matching us into the bush with gun shots, one of us who is a pregnant woman fell down and could not move anymore, while they were trying to revive her, one other man escaped into the bush, this made the kidnappers very angry so they left the pregnant woman to die while we were matched into the forest .

We trekked for about three hours into the bush, crossed a river and ascended the hills which was about twenty minutes to climb and after which we descended into the ditch and then the thick forest.

I observed that the kidnappers had a sign of communication and direction inside the forest . I discovered that some rags were tied on some trees in the forest with a sign, once we approach the tree, they will point the torch to identify the point that the rag turn to, this happens to be the way and so we moved on and on using same strategy to find the way.

In another instance, once they heard any noise inside the forest we will be asked to stop while the kidnappers make a sound like that of a herdman to cows, if there is a similar response it means that it is their colleagues but if no response then they will start shooting into the bush before commanding us to move on.

There were lots of dead bodies inside the forest with their hands tied to their back . We trekked for another two hours before getting to their camp which is located inside the heart of the forest.

On our arrival, there was jubilation, the place was filled with dead bodies and then one of them came and started tieing our hands to our back but they never spoke any word to us until the morning.

On Monday morning the leader of the gang who was being referred to as Alhaji came to us after he had made some calls to their boss and then commanded that we been beaten, we were beaten like animals without mercy .
After the beating, we were then asked to call our families for negotiation, anyone whose family did not give positive answer to the ransome will be beaten seriously after series of gunshots in the air to put fear in their minds.

When it was my turn, the negotiator picked me up and began flogging me, then I began to beg him in Hausa language, I was shocked that he stopped and their boss then asked him to remove me among the others, then he asked me if I was from the north since I was bearded but I told him no but that I was born in the north, because of that, the kidnapper loose the blindfold that was on my eyes and asked me to sit in the ground while others lay on their stomach.

I then called my elder brother, at first I was scared that my brother will not respond positively and fear of being beaten again, but my brother in his wisdom even though fear could be felt in his voice, he told the kidnappers that firstly he has to talk to me and I was given the phone to speak to him, then he told the negotiator that things are hard but he was going to get them the money and that they should call him back by midday same day.

This conversation made them happy and I wasn't beaten anymore but the others were seriously dealt with. After series of negotiation with my brother who was always given them hope. Finally, the ransome was settled and yet to be paid.

I was in the kidnappers den for four days without food nor water, once in a day the kidnappers fetch river water then add tramadol inside the cup and give us to drink or else we will die of hunger, we poo and urinate on our body in the days we spent there. They kidnap passengers twice daily, both women and children, sometimes when the encounter any police escort, they kill the police and make away with his gun and cap and whenever this happens, the person that shot the policeman will be promoted.

Within the den of the kidnappers there is an amourer who services their guns.They have bags of bullets, different types of guns including two SMGs. Arms and ammunitions litter the ground as they always change guns in each operation, which means that the guns used in the morning won't be used in the evening till two days time because their funder from the look of things is highly placed. They don't eat real food, what they eat is garri soaked in oil with onions and Maggi. They don't rape their victims but beat their victims to death.

Guns don't penetrate them there in the forest. Before going out for any operation, they shot at each other randomly after which the leader brings out a white rag, spread it on the floor and all others will surround the rag and chant their incantations before leaving.

After my elder brother paid the ransome for four of us that night, the leader of the team sent me a message to the Nigerian police, he asked me to tell the police that they have come for the police and that they will kill all policemen that come their way because they have taken over Edo state and will soon start a war that will lead to the taking over of the whole state. I promised him I will personally deliver the message to the Commissioner of Police, Edo state. Four of them walked us into the bush until we got to a village, then they told us to walk into the village and from there find our way since my brother was already waiting to receive us .

Finally it was freedom at last .

PLEASE DONT EVEN ENCOURAGE YOUR ENEMIES TO TRAVEL OUT OF BENIN NOT TO TALK OF YOUR FRIENDS.

Thanks for a the love and care shown to me during my abduction in the kidnappers' den.

ThankGod Okuk

The part where the shoot each other and bullet doesn't penetrate is what captures my attention, I don't believe in stuffs like that but I'm not saying you are lying. I can only logically deduce that maybe the were shot with blanks so that they'll feel invincible and confident.

Nawaoo, this country no get joy at all.

It must have been a traumatizing experience. This is saddening.

Nigeria, which way to go?

Nothing good ever comes out of these region why?

falcon01:
The part where the shoot each other and bullet doesn't penetrate is what captures my attention, I don't believe in stuffs like that but I'm not saying you are lying. I can only logically deduce that maybe the were shot with blanks so that they'll feel invincible and confident.

In the heat of a close-range firefight, most shots miss their targets, so bodies may, or may not fall. Also, in gun battles, "covering fire" is used to pin the enemy down while combatants run into new firing positions, in their bid to outflank the enemy. Covering fire is rarely aimed with precision, and is merely unleashed so enemy combatants feel the pressure waves of passing bullets, forcing them to keep their heads down while opposing gunmen hastily reposition and reload.

In short, lots of guns going off at once does not necessarily result in a large body count when the smoke clears. There is no juju or magic involved with the science of ballistics. When a bullet impacts flesh and bones, the outcome can be very messy. When bullets from shots fired MISS their intended target, no harm is done provided the target quickly dives for cover in anticipation of incoming follow-up shots.

Finally, when a fully automatic rifle like the AK47 is fired in the full-auto "rock-n-roll" mode, there is one hell of an earth-shaking racket, as that 30-round banana clip empties out.

OP this was an utterly terrifying account of Edo State under Fulani terrorist occupation. The image of bodies with their hands tied behind their backs, littering the forest, and the disclosure that kidnappings occur TWICE DAILY, along that highway to hell, is the stuff of one's worst nightmares. The account above could only have been drawn from real memories of real events, that are indeed, stranger than fiction.

Very nice write up, your story kept me captivating, thank God you are safe now.

Jakumo:


In the heat of a close-range firefight, most shots miss their targets, so bodies may, or may not fall. Also, in gun battles, "covering fire" is used to pin the enemy down while combatants run into new firing positions, in their bid to outflank the enemy. Covering fire is rarely aimed with precision, and is merely unleashed so enemy combatants feel the pressure waves of passing bullets, forcing them to keep their heads down while opposing gunmen hastily reposition and reload.

In short, lots of guns going off at once does not necessarily result in a large body count when the smoke clears. There is no juju or magic involved with the science of ballistics. When a bullet impacts flesh and bones, the outcome can be very messy. When bullets from shots fired MISS their intended target, no harm is done provided the target quickly dives for cover in anticipation of incoming follow-up shots.

Finally, when a fully automatic rifle like the AK47 is fired in the full-auto "rock-n-roll" mode, there is one hell of an earth-shaking racket, as that 30-round banana clip empties out.

OP this was an utterly terrifying account of Edo State under Fulani terrorist occupation. The image of bodies with their hands tied behind their backs, littering the forest, and the disclosure that kidnappings occur TWICE DAILY, along that highway to hell, is the stuff of one's worst nightmares. The account above could only have been drawn from real memories of real events, that are indeed, stranger than fiction.

I know about Guns but he said, they shoot at each other at close range so that's why I think it might be blank plus at close range the recoil of an Ak47 is sure to hit a target .

falcon01:
The part where the shoot each other and bullet doesn't penetrate is what captures my attention, I don't believe in stuffs like that but I'm not saying you are lying. I can only logically deduce that maybe the were shot with blanks so that they'll feel invincible and confident.

Hmmm...you never see life!!!

falcon01:
I know about Guns but he said, they shoot at each other at close range so that's why I think it might be blank plus at close range the recoil of an Ak47 is sure to hit a target .

Ok I understand. Your guess that blanks were being fired, might be accurate. Also, they might not have been firing AK rifles for those fetish dances, but might have been using shotguns loaded with blanks, or even muzzle-loading local Dane-guns packed with gun-powder, but with no pellets added.

It was blank shots to scare their victims, and play on the minds of their young recruits,to make them feel more invicible and daring. The state governor need to declare war, they need the airforce for regular air patrols of the forest, government will need to evacuate any legitimate citizens living in the fringes of the forest areas, and a prolonged raid by helicopter gunships, and missiles into specified locations. Nigeria government need to buy or hire laser guided missile equipments and weaponry, they must use the billions of dollars to buy weapons, because Northerners, Southerners, everyone is dying...let us stop playing politics with human blood.

decatalyst:


Hmmm...you never see life!!!

na tricks, no one has came out to do this experiment live without bias, carried out by externals...these people do this,to make their young recruits more daring, and to put fear in their victims minds. mind games and tricks.

dederocs:
It was blank shots to scare their victims, and play on the minds of their young recruits,to make them feel more invicible and daring. The state governor need to declare war, they need the airforce for regular air patrols of the forest, people will asked to leave(evacuation), and a prolonged raid by helicopter gunships, and missiles into specified locations. Nigeria government need to buy or hire laser guided missile equipments and weaponry, they must use the billions of dollars to buy weapons, because Northerners, Southerners, everyone is dying...let us stop playing politics with human blood.

On the lower end of the budget scale, used drones capable of filming in 2.7K resolution, and flying at 18mph for up to 25 minutes, are now cheap, and could be bought by the local police, to carry around in patrol vehicles, and thus launch the drones from within 3 miles of the kidnap hotspots, thereby covering a vast area in a short time. Once the kidnappers have been spotted by the drone, ground units can then coordinate ambushes.

Jakumo:


On the lower end of the budget scale, used drones capable of filming in 2.7K resolution, and flying at 18mph for up to 25 minutes, are now cheap, and could be bought by the local police, to carry around in patrol vehicles, and thus launch the drones from within 3 miles of the kidnap hotspots, thereby covering a vast area in a short time. Once the kidnappers have been spotted by the drone, ground units can then coordinate ambushes.

The country is currently run by people who want such attrocities to continue else this would have been a thing of the past

In as much as kidnappings are now a daily occurrence in some parts of d country these days, Dis story has so many loopholes.. The writer seems to know so much details for someone who spent 4 days without fud and drugged water

And after reading such a traumatic story some people including Edolites still come out to condemn ESN.Na wa o

Jakumo:


On the lower end of the budget scale, used drones capable of filming in 2.7K resolution, and flying at 18mph for up to 25 minutes, are now cheap, and could be bought by the local police, to carry around in patrol vehicles, and thus launch the drones from within 3 miles of the kidnap hotspots, thereby covering a vast area in a short time. Once the kidnappers have been spotted by the drone, ground units can then coordinate ambushes.

Exactly, if we had a serious government Nigerian engineers would have been sent abroad, to learn the science of building jet fighter engines, and drone laser equipments, to sniff out these demons.

Guns don't penetrate them there in the forest. Before going out for any operation, they shot at each other randomly after which the leader brings out a white rag, spread it on the floor and all others will surround the rag and chant their incantations before
Lies.

Nbotee:
In as much as kidnappings are now a daily occurrence in some parts of d country these days, Dis story has so many loopholes.. The writer seems to know so much details for someone who spent 4 days without fud and drugged water

I even think the post is sponsored.

Claiming bullets don't penetrate the kidnappers is complete horseshit.

216dixteen:
[s][/s]

Your oga gave you access to his phone today.

OP bia, you were kidnapped on the 18th yet your first post on the 23rd was about a flat you had for sale.

E be like say you no dey suffer trauma.

dederocs:
It was blank shots to scare their victims, and play on the minds of their young recruits,to make them feel more invicible and daring. The state governor need to declare war, they need the airforce for regular air patrols of the forest, government will need to evacuate any legitimate citizens living in the fringes of the forest areas, and a prolonged raid by helicopter gunships, and missiles into specified locations. Nigeria government need to buy or hire laser guided missile equipments and weaponry, they must use the billions of dollars to buy weapons, because Northerners, Southerners, everyone is dying...let us stop playing politics with human blood.

Lol... "the state governor need to declare war" bla bla... Lol

You talk still using sentiments of one Nigeria for this yeye country. Oh, so you think security forces and government don't know what to do before?

The governors' power especially Southerners are limited. And something is coming.

Yes, war looms and it's no joke. The best is for southerners to prepare. The time even seems short. The things those kidnappers said are real and what they want is total domination of the south.

This is no time to speak grammar. PREPARE!

Nbotee:
In as much as kidnappings are now a daily occurrence in some parts of d country these days, Dis story has so many loopholes.. The writer seems to know so much details for someone who spent 4 days without fud and drugged water

hope you read where him say him Sabi speak Hausa... besides he said they removed his eye cover ...

Imagine the nonsense.

How can foreigners build killing camps in ur forest and all of u are doing siddon look?

Dy are not in dr thousands and dy don't have armored tanks!

All those cult boys forming Rambo and local vigilantes shld storm that forest and clear them out!

This jazz talk is bull shit and even if it wr real,Oba of Benin own go pass am.

sharpwriter:


Lol... "the state governor need to declare war" bla bla... Lol

You talk still using sentiments of one Nigeria for this yeye country. Oh, so you think security forces and government don't know what to do before?

The governors' power especially Southerners are limited. And something is coming.

Yes, war looms and it's no joke. The best is for southerners to prepare. The time even seems short. The things those kidnappers said are real and what they want is total domination of the south.

This is no time to speak grammar. PREPARE!

I did not see anything funny.

Why I advised people not to travel if it is not absolutely necessary to do so.
Abuja-Okene-Ekpoma road is not safe.

dederocs:
It was blank shots to scare their victims, and play on the minds of their young recruits,to make them feel more invicible and daring. The state governor need to declare war, they need the airforce for regular air patrols of the forest, government will need to evacuate any legitimate citizens living in the fringes of the forest areas, and a prolonged raid by helicopter gunships, and missiles into specified locations. Nigeria government need to buy or hire laser guided missile equipments and weaponry, they must use the billions of dollars to buy weapons, because Northerners, Southerners, everyone is dying...let us stop playing politics with human blood.

Exactly, there has to be a bush raid or something. People go in there and kill every suspected kidnapper. If the government cannot do it, then the citizens have to do it themselves. A combined effort of vigilantes, hunters and youth volunteers can resolve this problem once and for all in a one week raid.

As for the shots, I doubt if criminals will have access to blank bullets. They go straight up for live ammunition. As much as we don't want to believe many Fulanis are very fetish. Many people go to them for charms.

Richandsimple:
Imagine the nonsense.

How can foreigners build killing camps in ur forest and all of u are doing siddon look?

Dy are not in dr thousands and dy don't have armored tanks!

All those cult boys forming Rambo and local vigilantes shld storm that forest and clear them out!

This jazz talk is bull shit and even if it wr real,Oba of Benin own go pass am.

Abi ooo. Let the state for once benefit from their ruggedity. Dedicated effort of youth volunteers, vigilante, ex-military, etc will resolve all these once and for all.