How my student sponsored kidnappers that kidnapped me – Islamic Cleric

Alhaji Jamiu Zakariyahu, an Islamic cleric, was kidnapped on October 2, 2019, in Ajowa Akoko, Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

He escaped a few days later. He shares his ordeal while in captivity with PETER DADA

How were you kidnapped?

Over the years I have been leading a Muslim congregation to pray in the morning and evening at Daja Mosque, Ajowa Akoko, in Akoko North West Local Government Area, Ondo State.

On this fateful day, I finished the last day prayers called Ishai and I was going home on my motorcycle around 7.45 pm. As I was about four poles to my house, about five or six men suddenly appeared and put torchlight on my face. I was confused. Suddenly, they pushed me down from the bike and put a mask on my face. That was how the journey to the bush commenced. I did not know the path we took to the forest.

Can you recollect what transpired in the kidnappers’ den when you were with them?

I met one person there, who they had earlier kidnapped. Two other persons were brought the second night. Then, they further tightened the clothes with which they blindfolded me. They also tied my two hands backwards and also tied my two legs together. They taped my mouth. They turned down my request that they should allow me to pray, but I prayed silently and put my fate in Allah. I remained steadfast and unshakeable. I always took permission whenever I wanted to urinate. I was given bread, ‘puffpuff’ and water. But I did not know the source. They beat me several times and they threatened to kill me if they did not get any ransom. So they asked me to talk to my people to send money for the ransom.

What was the memorable thing that happened to you in captivity that you could not forget so quickly?

Their refusal to allow me to pray despite my request was the greatest thing that ever happened to me in life. I was denied the opportunity to pray for three days.

From the way they were speaking with you, which tribe do you think they are from?

Their intonation showed that they are Yoruba proper. When some of them were later arrested, we discovered that they were Yoruba and not Fulani as being insinuated and three of them were Muslims.

Did they talk to you when you were there?

Yes, they said I should ask members of my family to bring money for ransom so that I could be released.

What other things did they discuss with you?

The discussion they had with me was based on payment of ransom and nothing more.

How much did they ask for as ransom?

At the initial stage, a sum of N10m was demanded, but was reduced to N5m during the negotiations and later the negotiating team said they couldn’t pay more than N250,000. My family members told them that the victim was a teacher. On the day I was abducted, I had N40, 000 on me, two phones, wristwatch, sander and a leather shoe. They took away everything.

Was the money eventually paid?

No

Then, how did you regain freedom?

Through prayers and I believe my freedom was the handiwork of the almighty Allah. The rope they used to tie my hands was miraculously untied in the midnight when all of them (the kidnappers) had slept and I managed to untie the legs before I sneaked out of the den. I trekked some kilometres. So later I met a local hunter around 3 am in the forest who carried me home on his motorcycle.

Did you suspect anybody in the town or around that area that could be behind your abduction?

Not really, but later I discovered that they (the kidnappers) have informants in the town because everything that happened in the town was always communicated to them in the forest, including how the matter was reported at Ajowa police station. Also, the visits of the DPO of Oke Agbe, Mr Johnson Akintola, and that of the Area Commander, Ikare Akoko, Mr Razak Rauf, to my house were known to the kidnappers. They told me everything in their den and they bragged that no security agent could rescue me. They said I should just cooperate with them by talking to my people to bring money for ransom.

If you see other members of the gang, would you be able to recognise any of them?

I could not see anybody while there because I was blindfolded throughout my stay with them. So there was no way I could see them and I couldn’t recognise anybody, but they spoke very good English Language. However, when they were arrested, I recognised one Wasiu Mohammed. He was one of my students at koranic school and a son of a prominent Chief in Ajowa Akoko. I think he was the gang leader.

Cases of kidnapping are becoming more rampant in this part of the state and the country in general, what do you think the government can do to contain this scourge?

Well, my advice to the government is to create jobs. Most of the people who are into kidnapping are young men who are jobless. But if they are engaged, the crime rate would reduce drastically. Also, there is a need for the government to provide and equip security agents with modern equipment and communication gadgets to fight insecurity. With my experience, I believe security agents can curb criminality in Nigeria. After doing all these I will recommend a stiff penalty for whoever engages in kidnapping.

(Credit: Dee Fire Media)