Kidnapping in the family
I'm sure many of you must have come across the word "kidnap" and some might have even expressed it, but most of it is what we see on the news or what we watch on TV.
I had no interest in writing about the kidnapping that happened in our extended family recently but the news I saw yesterday about a kidnapper suspect prompted me to write about it.
Having a family member isn't a funny thing to talk about, though when everything has been resolved and you talk about everyone's reaction there can be laughter but at that moment, there won't be any form of laughing.
After the suspect has been arrested by the police, he was pointed at by a man saying "he is one of the kidnappers that carried me, he was sitting on the chair"
And the suspect said he has only done two kidnappings and he knows nothing about the man's case. I was surprised that he even admitted to the kidnapping of two people, nowhere is safe anymore.
How did the kidnapping in my family happen
It was on a Wednesday morning when I heard my mom talking on her phone with an abnormal tone. What is happening? I went closer to her door and I could hear the panic in her voice.
Oh God, how can this happen? What did they say now, hope they won't harm him. How much do they want?
I didn't go in until I heard the scream of an outrageous amount of money, 5 million naira, in dollars that would be about $7200 and above.
I went into her room and ask her what was happening, she told me her cousin has been kidnapped and the kidnappers are requesting an amount of $7200. Where is the family going to get that? Calls have been flying from one phone to another trying to seek funds to rescue the kidnapped victim.
Shortly after, my mom's eldest brother who has been promoted to the post of a lieutenant in the army was informed and things took another turn. We are just scared that the victim won't be harmed. I couldn't wait for long that day so I had to go to work.
When I got back home, I ask her about the development, she said they are trying to get the money and the kidnappers gave them 3 days to make a payment if not, they would kill her cousin. I also began to panic, honestly, if I had such an amount of money I would have given it to her because it was at her cousin's place she grew up after she lost her mom at the age of 9 years.
We kept praying for him while we seek for funds. Before the third day, I was told that he had been released. I asked if the money was paid but she didn't tell me about it. Now I'm curious but I don't want to keep asking. Was he rescued or released based on the fact that the money was paid? Anyways, I'm just glad he has been released and nothing bad happened to him.
In conclusion
I then imagine, what if it was one of my siblings that was the victim, what would I have done? I now understand how those people who have a family member kidnap feel. It is not a funny thing and I hope non of us fall victim to kidnapping.
Thanks for reading and have a nice day.
My aunt was kidnapped once and they collected 2 Million Naira (2020 November). Even when the money was available, her brothers were scared to take the money to the rendezvous point. We'd never know what could go wrong so their fear was justified.
One of my uncles eventually developed the courage and took the money there. Coincidentally, he met a man whose daughter had also been kidnapped on the way and was going to the same spot so he simply handed it over to him and the rest is history.
Insecurity problems in our country is getting worse and nobody is ready to do anything about it. The poloce that should safe guard us are the ones robbing us instead. Story for another day.