A headteacher in Kwara State, Mohammed Ndakpada Abubakar, has recounted how he escaped after spending 40 days in captivity, despite his family paying a total of ₦17 million to secure his release.
Abubakar, an indigene of Lata Nna in Patigi Local Government Area of the state, is the headteacher of LGEA School, Dina, in Patigi.
According to an account published by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), Abubakar was abducted on July 30 after finishing work on his farm.
He said he had earlier heard that suspected criminals were operating along Danokuro Road in the area but was told they had fled after military personnel pursued them.
Abubakar also recalled seeing unusual footprints around his farm that morning but continued working.
“My mind was telling me that the place was not conducive, but I waited to finish my work. When I had finished and started my motorcycle to return home, five young men just came from the back to attack me,” he said.
According to him, two of the attackers were carrying guns, two had cutlasses, while another carried a stick.
He said one of them struck him with the stick, causing him to fall, before they removed the cush-drive rubber from his motorcycle and used it to tie him.
The abductors then led him through the bush to a camp deep inside the forest, where they arrived at about 11pm.
Abductors demanded ₦100m ransom
Abubakar said his captors subjected him to physical assault and denied him food and water for three days before demanding a ₦100 million ransom from his family.
“The next day, they started to beat me. They said my ransom was N100 million. Meanwhile, they refused to give me any food and water for three days,” he said.
He said the abductors repeatedly beat him while asking whether he had accepted the ransom demand.
After weeks of negotiations, however, the abductors reportedly agreed to reduce the ransom to ₦12 million.
Abubakar said they warned his family that the money had to be complete and threatened to kill him if the amount was short by even ₦50.
He said the abductors also gave his family one week to raise the money.
‘They claimed the ₦12m ransom was incomplete’
According to Abubakar, when his family delivered the agreed ₦12 million, the abductors claimed they had received only ₦8 million.
He later discovered that his family had actually sent the full amount, but one of the abductors had allegedly taken ₦4 million from the payment.
“The midnight my family provided the money, they came to the hut where they had kept me and said that the money was incomplete. They said my family only brought N8 million to them and that the rest must be provided before they would release me,” he said.
Abubakar said he later spoke with his brother using one of the abductors’ phones and was informed that the full ₦12 million had been sent.
When he confronted the abductors, he said one of them took the phone and insisted that another ₦4 million had to be paid before he would be released.
His family subsequently raised and paid the additional ₦4 million.
However, Abubakar said the payment still did not immediately secure his freedom.
Abductor demanded additional ₦1m
He said one of the abductors later offered to take him away from the main camp and help him return home.
Instead, according to Abubakar, the man took him to another location and demanded additional money before he would release him.
Abubakar said his brother initially offered to pay the man ₦300,000 for safely returning him.
“But the terrorist told my brother that the N300,000 was good money but it would only be for his children’s school fees; however, what he wanted for himself was N1 million,” he said.
The man reportedly told the family that he needed the additional money to settle other obligations.
By Monday, Abubakar said, his family transferred ₦1 million to an account provided by the abductor.
Despite the payment, he said the man remained reluctant to release him.
How he escaped
Abubakar said his opportunity to escape came on the morning of September 7.
He said the abductor woke him and asked him to fetch water for his bath.
After bringing the water, he was instructed to sweep around the hut.
While going to get a broom, Abubakar said he noticed an opportunity and ran.
He said he had earlier used the abductor’s phone to speak with his brother at about 6:28am.
After escaping, he followed a path through the bush and continued walking for about 16 hours before reaching home at approximately 10pm.
He had spent 40 days in captivity.
Headteacher suffers health complications
Following his escape, Abubakar said he had to receive treatment for severe joint pains, typhoid and an ulcer.
He also said the men who abducted him appeared to be relatively young.
According to him, the oldest appeared to be about 30 years old, while one was around 18. Most, he said, were 25 years old or younger.
He recalled some of the names used by the abductors as Abubakar Atiku, Dogji and Bashiru, while two others were known by the nickname “Yellow”.
Abubakar, however, said the names might not have been their real identities.
The report also stated that, apart from the ransom payments, the abductors demanded additional items including cigarettes, malt drinks, energy drinks, liquor, packs of tramadol and slippers.
The circumstances surrounding the prolonged captivity and the multiple ransom demands have raised further concerns about the security situation in parts of Patigi and other rural communities in Kwara State.
