We were kidnapped by southerners in Delta, handed over to Fulani for ransom negotiation – Bayelsa-based journalist

What are the events that led to your kidnap?

I must say that I had no premonition that such could happen to me. But when the kidnap happened, it all looked like something I had dreamt about before, especially the shooting and killing of the driver. It felt like it was happening in a movie. Actually on that day, I was supposed to leave Bayelsa for Delta State by 3pm but I shifted it to 4pm. On my way to the park, I saw a bus belonging to Sunny Ero Motors, which took me to the park where I boarded the bus going to Warri. So, I got my ticket but it took a while for the bus to fill up. For the first time, I didn’t write my name in the manifest because I got my ticket from the first park where I boarded the bus. But some things happened, like people coming into the bus and alighting because of one reason or another. I kept faith in God, believing that I would get to my destination without any hiccup. We left Yenagoa around 5pm and I expected I should be at my destination by 7pm. I was also sure of arriving at my destination safely; there had been no kidnapping on that route for a while. I am surprised to have been kidnapped.

Do you think leaving late contributed to your kidnap?

I don’t think so. We were kidnapped around 6pm when the day was still bright. I was thinking we should arrive in Ughelli soon but we were attacked and kidnapped five minutes’ drive to Ughelli. When we were leaving the park, there was another bus loading after the one I boarded and going towards the same direction we were going. It was a random thing and we were unfortunate to be there at that time.

There were almost 15 police checkpoints that we passed before we were kidnapped. The last one we passed was just one or two minutes before we were abducted. I have learnt my lessons, the moment it is after 4pm, I will never leave for a trip again, no matter how short.

Can you explain how the kidnap took place?

was making a call to my sister to wish her a happy birthday but her phone was not reachable as we passed a village called Uwelli. So I called my sister’s friend so she could let her know I was going to stay with her till the following day before travelling further. It was at this point that I started hearing gunshots. It was like I was in a trance. All I noticed was that we all lay down in the bus trying to avoid being hit by bullets. It was a war situation. Two other passengers were lying on me. The first thing I saw was a man shooting in the air. He then pointed the gun at the driver and shot him dead. The driver’s blood started flowing to where I was and even stained my phone. But my phone was still on and I was sure that my sister’s friend heard all the commotion that took place. The kidnappers just came out from the bush and hell was let loose.

How many of you were taken into the bush?

They took about seven or eight of us from the bus. Two boys, who sat at the back, escaped, I suppose, through the window. They also kidnapped people from two Sienna buses that were behind us, one from Port Harcourt and another had a man and his wife. Initially they separated us. Immediately, they took our wallets, phones (which they switched off) and other personal effects. They couldn’t switch off my phone and they put it in airplane mode. They took us through a bush path and I was the one who carried all the things they took from us, which was added burden. After about 10 minutes walk into the bush, I heard police siren and gunshots and we diverted into a thick forest that was waterlogged and they told us to lie face down. They instructed that nobody should talk. After about an hour of lying face down in the water and they were sure the police had gone, they told us to stand up, by which time, it was dark and it was difficult to see who was beside you.

We started walking, not knowing where we were going. I had lost my leather slippers during the initial commotion and I was walking barefoot. It was horrible because we didn’t know what we were stepping on. They used the torchlight from a small phone to find their way and ours was to follow them. They didn’t care about any discomfort any of us was going through. If you were not keeping with the pace, they hit you with the butt of the gun or beat you with a stick. When you also tried to break a small tree branch impeding you, they will think you intended to use it as a weapon and they would beat you. So, I had no choice but to move on no matter what was impeding me. I sustained several cuts on my arms. After several hours, we got to a spot where we were again told to lie face down.

They called us one after the other, asking us where we worked and other personal questions. It was like profiling us to see what they could get as ransom. They then separated us because they felt that there were some people they would not get money from even if they threatened to kill them. Those ones were thoroughly beaten and there were some female students who were released the next day.

What did the kidnappers look like?

The people who kidnapped us were southerners but they handed us us to Fulani or Hausa-Fulani (men) in the bush, who made sure we did not escape while the negotiation was on. It was obvious that the Fulani knew the forest so well.

https://punchng.com/we-were-kidnapped-by-southerners-in-delta-handed-over-to-fulani-for-ransom-negotiation-bayelsa-based-journalist/

Nawa o!!!! See collaboration in crime abeg

So Southerners have finally joined Northern bandits in wholesome kidnapping business. OK oo!

Niger Delta militants started this adoption for ransom now

Onyiiobi7735:
So Southerners have finally joined Northern bandits in wholesome kidnapping business. OK oo!

Wow

Fake news

Just imagine
They av turn it to businesa

There has been a collaboration

This is why I will never support any secession group.
Either Biafra, Oduduwa nation or any other.
Crime and evil exist in all tribes and parts of this country. Disintegrating the country won't solve it

Wtf, well for Nigeria no news shocks us again

There's always collaboration.

Even the Killing of Youths in Ohoro Village in Delta State close to Patani, it was one of the villagers that called the Army that the youths are killing innocent Hausa Men whereas they were Herdsmem with guns, that's how the military in conjunction with the Fulani Herdsmen killed 20 youths.

A Foreigner can't come and do shit in your homeland unless he has bribed a local otherwise he would get killed very easily.

This one shock me I swear

Southern criminals in collaboration with the illetrate Fulani bandits. Chai

Fr

This kidnap of a thing always has police collaboration in it. The situation in Edo and other south south regions is even worse. The day kidnappers would be having a field day, you'd not see a single police on the road. Thieves would be robbing at a close range and the police would look the other way at their checkpoint. Things cannot continue this way. That's why I'm in support of the interim government as proposed by Pa Afe Babalola, former AG of the federation. We can't say someone like him proposing such a great move either has a pecuniary motive or doesn't mean well for Nigeria. He's lived his life to the fullest, only awaiting glorious call. Nobody can also say such a legal luminary doesn't know or think before putting forward such a proposal. He's one of the few nationalists we have around. Things have become awry in every sector, not only in defence. Any politicians who oppose this move is either an enemy of state or a greedy fellow. No security, no jobs, no meaningful life, no education, no electricity, no infrastructure, nothing. I wonder why they're still in government.

With the interim government any politicians found culpable in these mess would not be under any shield or immunity. Our constitution would need to be amended to address all the agitations and perceived inequalities in the country. Boko haram who said western education has failed them, they need to ask them questions and put things right. Everyone needs a good life. Anyone who has seen where boko haram had been killed would know they're not looking good. They fight with their blood for a government style which they believe would give them a good life.

2023 elections isn't what we need right now. If buhari, a war general and former head of state could fail this woefully, if pdp couid not bring any meaningful development to the doorsteps of Nigerians since 1999, If the preceding military era couldn't fare better which led to agitation for democracy, then constitution amendment is inevitable to address several areas and issues, except we want to keep deceiving ourselves and if we want to remain a united Nigeria

I barely escaped this kidnapper's on the 18th of April, 2022.
I was on my way to Lokoja from Anyigba where the state university is situated, just before Ochadamu junction, a gang of about 8 jumped out of the bush and started shooting. I was fortunate that 2 cars were ahead of me. Another set of about 3 came out of the bush just ahead of me but behind the second car, this one's had cutlasses, I quickly engaged the break and brought the car to an abrupt stop. The kidnapper's focused on the first car which gave me time to reverse to a safe distance and turn for the next village.
They operated freely for about 1hr 45 minutes before soldiers came to clear the road.
The kidnapper's had indigenes and fulani members.
I am truly grateful to God for saving me and my family.
I was informed that one of them was arrested. Look at the wicked fool.

Kuginzi:
We were kidnapped by southerners in Delta, handed over to Fulani for ransom negotiation – Bayelsa-based journalist




https://punchng.com/we-were-kidnapped-by-southerners-in-delta-handed-over-to-fulani-for-ransom-negotiation-bayelsa-based-journalist/

Imagine our police wuruwuru work! Victims were close by n halted for an HOUR! Police didn't KNOW N STILL LEFT? WHO ELSE BELIEVED they could have been RESUCED that POINT?

Well at least the phrase "UNITED we STAND"... EVEN on the FLOOR of CRIME. STAND na STAND

Deaths to all terrorists and kidnappers on our darling nation.
Again,
Death to all terrorists in Nigeria.

If you are here supporting terrorists out there, brutal deaths await you also.

Quote this comment if you are one of the aforementioned.

Let Nairalanders know you today.

Brutal and heinous deaths to all their sponsors, lover sof their sponsors and all their family members above the age of 18 that love evil like them.

They will never die a peaceful death.
And their deaths shall come before 21 days.
So shall it be.

No be curse,
Na FACT.

all terrorists deserve death.

Ahmed0336:
Nawa o!!!! See collaboration in crime abeg

My brother, na only for Nairaland we dey practice tribalism o, when he reach crime na wazobia. You no see how the criminal politicians too dey do am?

Okoros strategic

This is a normal thing na. When it comes to criminality in nigeria, there is no tribe or religion.

So are you trying to say, that their was Unity in Diversity between the Osu-jews and the nunu drinking smelly almajiri's just to achieve a successful kidnap? Nigeria is very funny.

Even in Oyo surveillance research had it that the indigene aid the kidnapping of fellow indigene in Fulani herdsmen dynasty



don't think a Fulani can kill easily in Enugu without brothers inviting them to do so because of land

sad

This has been happening

My inlaw was kidnapped 2020

First set of people that called were southerners

Last set (before he was killed) Northerners.

See collaboration I blame buhari

Kidnapper don dey feature each oda now

There were almost 15 police checkpoints that we passed before we were kidnapped. The last one we passed was just one or two minutes before we were abducted.

This goes to show some of these kidnappings are done in connivance with the Policemen, cause anybody that knows that route, will know that, there is a Police checkpoint every 1 km.

iCauseTrouble:
This is why I will never support any cessation group.
Either Biafra, Oduduwa nation or any other.
Crime and evil exist in all tribes and parts of this country. Disintegrating the country won't solve it

What you have said is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Business don set.

He should go further and tell us the "southerners" make we know instead of just labeling them "southerners".

E shock u