“HOW KIDNAPPERS BEAT ME FOR PRAYING ON PHONE INSTEAD OF ASKING FOR RANSOM” — SARAH CHINEDU By Chris Mark
“HOW KIDNAPPERS BEAT ME FOR PRAYING ON PHONE INSTEAD OF ASKING FOR RANSOM” — SARAH CHINEDU
By Chris Mark
A 42-year-old woman, Mrs. Sarah Chinedu, who was abducted three weeks ago and rescued by police in Ogboinbiri Forest, Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa State, has recounted her harrowing experience in the kidnappers’ den.
Mrs. Sarah, an indigene of Ebonyi State and a foam dealer in Amassoma, was rescued by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo.
She said she was beaten for praying with someone on the phone instead of pressuring her family to pay ransom.
According to her, “They did not touch me nor did they beat me. Only when they beat me was when someone was praying for me, praying with me. Because they wanted to hear money from them.”
“They pray with me. Then they say, why did I pray? Why would they pray with me?” she recalled.
She said the kidnappers stormed her shop in Amassoma under the pretext of buying foam, pointed a gun at her and took her away.
“When they came, they picked me up from my place to somewhere I did not know. There were two of them. The experience was like three days to be one month.”
“And the place was very terrible, very, very terrible. Although they did not touch me, but it was very terrible for me.”
“They were giving me foods but I refused to eat because where I was, I’m not happy. They said they wanted to buy something from my shop.”
“Then as I entered inside, that is the only thing they brought that gun. From there they left my daughter and one woman that was with me and carried me to one place.”
“They said police checkpoint is there. They dropped me inside the boat, from boat to boat, from boat to where I don’t know.”
“That day there were four that carried me, but inside the boat I don’t know how many of them, but I couldn’t see anybody again. I thank Almighty God and to you people that rescued me.”
Mrs. Chinedu said the gang demanded N100 million at first.
“First of all they said I should pay them hundred million. I told them I don’t have money. They said I should shut up, that your husband has money. I said okay.”
“According to how they were pressuring me, I was begging them to free me for five million. They said no. They said twenty million last.”
She added that her husband was pressured to pay N1.8 million.
“They now told me that my husband has already paid N1.8million because of pressure that my people are giving to him. He paid N1.8million but they still said I must ask for more before they will free me.”
She said the only assault she suffered was for praying:
“They did not touch me or beat me, no. Only when they beat me when someone was praying for me, praying with me. Because they wanted to hear money from them.”
“They pray with me. Then they say, why did I pray? Why would they pray with me? They used one, just hit me and came back and told me sorry. That is the only thing they did to me.”
“But today I thank the Nigerian police. May God keep strengthening and guiding them. Also may all that they want, may God provide it for them. That is my prayer to them,” she said.
The Bayelsa Police Command confirmed that Mrs. Chinedu was rescued unhurt during a raid on the kidnappers’ camp in Ogboinbiri Forest and that one suspect has been arrested.
