3-Days Ordeal of Lagos Tourism Staff at Kidnapper’s Den in Abuja

By Adejoke Bakare

When he bade his family and colleagues farewell on that faithful Wednesday, 25th of July, 2018 no one ever imagined what awaits Mr Moshood ( not real name) later that day on his journey to Federal Capital Territory, Abuja where he was working before his transferred to the Center of excellence.

He has just been reposted back to Lagos Council of Arts and Culture, a subsidiary of Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture from Abuja Liaison’s office. After his resumption, a need arose for him to go back to Abuja for proper handling over when the commercial bus he boarded was waylaid.

The unfortunate accident occurred at an area that is called Osara around Okene in Kogi state at 6pm. The bus drove into the hoodlums with no thought of danger locking around. The scene was painted as if someone that had an accident with a by circle needed to be rescued at the middle of the road.

While trying to maneuver the gang rushed at the and the driver quickly applied the gear to reverse with the intention of turning and driving back but luck ran against them as the vehicle got stocked in the  process and everyone in the bus took to their heels headed to different directions.

” I was outran , caught and  taken hostage for about three days”  Moshood said. That incident was a very terrible experience that I can’t forget in my life” he lamented.

He was kept at an open place in the thick forest with nothing over his head. Whenever it rained, nylon was provided for him whom he used to cover himself pending the time the rain subsided.

His captors demanded for #50million ransom when his wife was contacted through his phone.

They were forbidden from speaking Yoruba Language with strong and stern warning against reporting to the police .

Viola Moshood was able to identify his captors to be Fulanis. The one that was engaged to negotiate on behalf of the group speaks English language fluently with little Fulani ascent.

The police were contacted at Abuja who later radioed and informed the Kogi command but the couldn’t do much as they were incapacitated.

But The State Security Service (SSS) responded and swift into action although from the distance in order to ascertain and guaranteed the safe release of the captive.

The negotiations for his release eventually came to a conclusion after the wife and families paid one million ransom to the kidnappers. The was instructed to take the money to Lokoja, a drive of about 4-6 hours drive from where Moshood was being kept.

The family, friends and colleagues breath in a fresh air when he returned back home on Friday after the agreed sum of one million was paid on Thursday.

The kidnapped was seeing with a POP on his left leg when Trackers visited him. The injury he  sustained as a result of his attempt to run away from his captor’s den.