Chuwang Emmanuel, Jalingo
The Caretaker Chairman, Takum local government council of Taraba state Hon. Boyi Manja has given details of how he was set free by kidnappers, after parting with N10 million as ransom.
He spoke with some Newsmen over the weekend in Jalingo on his release.
Mr. Manja was kidnapped along Chanchanji–Takum road Sunday, 7th May, while returning to Takum after visiting Wukari local government area. His police orderly was killed on the spot and he was held by his captors for five days.
Mr. Manja said he had a good reason to thank God for surviving the kidnap as his police orderly was not lucky to survive.
“I escaped death by the grace of God and may the soul of my orderly rest in peace.” He said soberly.
He said those who kidnapped him revealed to him that the act was politically motivated.
He recalled his ordeal at the hands of the kidnappers, noting that he was with the kidnappers from Sunday, May 7 to Friday, May 12.
He disclosed that, contrary to speculations that he was rescued by security agents, N10 million was paid as ransom before he was released.
His words. “I left Jalingo through Wukari to Takum, on my way shortly after Chanchanji, I saw 4 motorcycles carrying men in special task force uniforms, I also believed they were security men, but they stopped my car before I could know in a few seconds, but I heard two gunshots.
“They ordered my driver to come down, I asked one of them, the officer is like you people don’t know me, I am the chairman of Takum, that was when they dragged the driver off the steering, took away my orderly, and killed him.
“When I discovered they were kidnappers, I have to bow my head, one of them hit me in my neck and demanded I should show him how to engage the gear of the car, I obliged, and they left the area and took me to a bush path.
“Few minutes into our drive, the one seating by my side removed a black cloth and rapped my face, from then, I lost sight of where we were heading, they took me to a house, but there was nobody in the house, I have been just alone for the whole day.
“The next day, two of them came to me, while they were talking, one of the two asked me why have I not been talking to some politicians in Takum, he revealed to me that they were paid not just to kidnap me but to kill me, is only God that preserved my life that day.
“I also believe so because when they shot and killed my orderly, I learned they also shot two times at my door, I cannot tell how come I was not shot at the moment, that was when their overall boss came into the house and informed me that is politicians from Takum that want me killed.
“On the third day, they demanded the number of any of my relatives, I gave them my friend’s phone number, and when they called, they later came back and told me that the politicians are insisting they must take not less than N150 million ransom, my friend told them since I was born I have not seen N20 million.
“They insisted if I have properties I should call for sale, I told them I had only one house in Jalingo which I bought for just N4 million after much footdragging, they settled with my friend for N10 million.
“Since my five days under captivity, I was only drinking water, I want to inform the general public that the impression that if someone is kidnapped is been taken to a forest or bush, is not true, I was kept inside Takum.
“I also want to tell the government that, where the kidnappers kept me, everyone there is carrying a gun, AK47 is like a common stick to them, everybody there is carrying it including children, they keep their victims inside the house, and allowed children to be playing outside, even security if they go there, they will hardly understand what is going on within the area.
“Because of how I was kidnapped, and I did not eat, I was paralyzed, I could not stand again, that was when they removed the black cloth on my face, that was also when I was capable of seeing so many unholy things within the house.
“On the eve of the day I will be released, I was informed by one of them, that was the night I was able to eat, because I never knew where I may be dropped and need energy to walk should in case is not close to the road.
“When I was to be taken to where I will be freed, their boss told me that if they drop me, I should be quick to locate security because there are many people in the kidnapping business, if they find me, they would still pick me and his hands will not be there again.
“On Friday night, I was taken to the road and was freed, am not distracted by what happened to me, am rather more gingered to serve my people, and am fully aware of what happened to me as of now.” He explained.
