Young Elder GCFR

A Nigerian comedian-cum-actor, Efosa Japheth, popularly
known as Young Elder GCFR, has narrated how he escaped
being kidnapped at the Benin-Auchi expressway, at 4.30 p.m.,
on May 21.
Sharing the grim encounter with PREMIUM TIMES , Mr Japheth said he is yet to recover from the shock.

The Benin-based comedian said he was billed to perform at a
club in Ekpoma, a village in Edo state on that fateful day.
While travelling by road, he encountered kidnappers, who were
fully armed.

There have been several cases of kidnappings reported in
different parts of Nigeria. While many of the kidnappers
demand ransom from the families of the victims for them to
be released, others kill the victims before or after ransom
payment.

Encounter
Mr Japheth said before he embarked on the journey on May
21, his friend, Miracle Aigbe, reached out to him. According to
him, she joined his vehicle since they were headed to the
same location.

“As we were going, after the Benin bypass, we came across
some military checkpoints. There is a particular Ayelala
building on that express road, immediately we passed the
checkpoint, Miracle Aigbe was seated at the back while I was
sitting at the front with the driver. She was putting on an
earpiece and was not too aware of our conversation and what
was happening during the journey.

“Five minutes from the checkpoint, we noticed that someone
came out from the bush, dressed in red beret, I didn’t really get
a look. He rushed out from the bush and was shooting
sporadically,” he narrated.

The comedian said in a split second, another person joined
the armed man from the bush, and at that point, they realised
the men were kidnappers.

“My driver matched the brake and attempted to reverse. Based on some orientations and stories we have heard about
kidnapping, I immediately knew the people had their traps set
for us at the back too. As soon as he reversed, I beckoned to
my driver that some of them would be at the back.”

Mr Japheth said his driver reversed the vehicle nevertheless,
after which they saw five more men at the back pulling over
other vehicles behind them.

“It was like they were trying to contain us. My driver stopped
the car and beckoned everyone in the car that we should run
as fast as we can. We opened the doors at the same time and
started running. We ran to the left side of the road, there was
a little bit of hill and we climbed it,” he said.

The comedian narrated that the third occupant of the car, Ms
Aigbe, also tried to run but could not catch up.

“Those bandits were actually shooting as we were running,
they kept shouting that if you run, I will shoot you. They were
Hausa/Fulani people. I fell and stood up again, I kept running,
following my driver,” he narrated.

Thinking that they had escaped the kidnappers, Mr Japheth
said he and the driver hid in the bush for about 30 minutes,
where they met another injured individual – who also escaped
another set of kidnappers in another direction.

“As we were about to leave the bush, we suddenly heard
footsteps and sounds of the kidnappers bringing people
towards our direction. We immediately lie (laid) back on the
ground, hiding.”

He added that they hid in the bush till about 5:50 p.m. almost
an hour after the incident occurred. Fearing that they could be
exposed if it gets darker, the comedian said he and the other
two people decided to leave the bush after hiding for some
time.


Young Elder GCFR

Escape
“When we ran out, we saw the Nigerian army, the police, and
the vigilante were all there. We also realised that there were
other vehicles affected, a Sienna, God is Good bus, a small car and others were at the side of the road.

He said they were taken to a police station to write their
statements and he pleaded with the police to escort them
back to Benin city.

On getting back home, negotiation for the release of his
abducted friend, Ms Aigbe began.

“When I got home, I got a call from Miracle Aigbe’s phone
saying that they have her and she was crying in the
background. The kidnappers requested N35 million as a
ransom for her to be released. I started negotiating for her
release and pleading with them,” he narrated.

Mr Japheth said Ms Aigbe parents could not raise any amount as the mother is a petty trader and the father a bus driver.

“I told the kidnappers that N510,000 was all I had with me
and they threatened to kill her if I mentioned the amount
again. They later said I should pay N5 million.”

He said after raising money from well-meaning Nigerians and
his colleagues, he realised N1 million and after much
negotiations and pleading, they agreed to collect the sum.

“They (kidnappers) said ”go and arrange the money, we will
call and tell you how to send the money”. They called the
following day and sent a bank account and phone number and instructed me to send the money there.

“It was later I realised that the account belongs to another
victim’s brother who was instructed to collect ransom for
about four victims,” he said.

The comedian said after paying the ransom, his friend,
alongside 13 other victims, was released on May 24 around
10 p.m.

Setbacks
The comedian also revealed that the security challenges in
Nigeria have affected his job in more ways than one.

Mr Japheth said he has lost so much money and gigs
because he has had to turn down several jobs because he is
afraid to travel by road.

“I have four companies that I represent (brand
ambassadorship) and I am meant to do videos for them but I
have not been able to do that. I have other jobs I am supposed to travel for but because of this insecurity, I cannot
pass the road, especially the Benin-Auchi expressway where I
ran into kidnappers.

“Insecurity is so rampant in Benin, Edo state. They
(kidnappers) are all inside our bushes. The insecurity has
reduced me from creating content on my own. I hardly go for
shows, to anchor events, and attend stand-up comedies,” he
said.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/464333-how-i-narrowly-escaped-being-kidnapped-comedian.html

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Sorry

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