Port worker narrates near-death experience in kidnapper’s den

Joy Joseph, Lagos

The District Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union, Nigerian Ports Authority, Warri, Delta State, Mr Samson Pere, who was kidnapped alongside six others, around Ibada Elume bridge on the busy Warri-Sapele road, has narrates his ordeal in the hands of his captors.

Daily Times reports that Pere was abducted by suspected herdsmen on Friday, March 5, and held hostage for three days until ransom was paid to secure his release.

The Comrade, who is currently, recuperating at a private hospital in Warri, told the correspondent he was on his way to Benin, Edo state from Warri when the kidnappers took over the road at exactly 4pm of the said day, shooting sporadically.

“I was driving in a Hilux van to Benin, Edo State that Friday, when the kidnappers opened fire at my vehicle. I lost control of the steering and found myself in the bush. In seconds I was taken hostage by the kidnappers and five others from other vehicles were taken captive. The eight kidnappers were fully armed with AK47, machetes, jack knives, among others. We were two men and four ladies. They led us into the forest and kept us there.

” At 4 pm, they would feed us with fufu and soup without meat. Thirty minutes after the meal, they would descend on us heavily. In the morning they would also beat us. They beat us twice daily with horse whip and cutlass. They inflicted machete injuries on us. They even used machete to cut me my hand. It was an experience I will not wish any one to go through. They said it was the only way they could get our families to pay the ransom fast.

“They ordered us to get across to family members and any other person we could call for ransom. They demanded very huge amount from me simply because I was driving a Hilux truck. When I told them that there is no way I can raise such amount, they threatened to kill me, and used the machete to cut my hands almost severing my hands. At the end of the day my people were able to raise some millions of naira for them. Five of us paid ransom, but one lady could not. They almost killed her.

“When we were being released, I pleaded with them to release the lady. After much pleading and beating she was allowed to go with us. Besides the ransom paid, they took my wrist watch , belt, a gold necklace. There were occasions, they took out two of the ladies. They would ask us to close our eyes and they would take them deeper into the forest. I can’t say what they did to them.

“I suspect they are herdsmen because of the way they communicate and behave. They spoke the language herdsmen speak to cow to gather, discuss, and pass instructions. They were in their 20s. They boasted to us that they would continue to kidnap at that point, and truly after our release , I heard they kidnapped another 17 persons there last Thursday,” he said.

Pere urged the Federal Government to put an end to the menace of kidnapping, which has made travelling by road a nightmare.

“Sincerely, I thank God for sparing my life, I also thank those who raised the money for my release. I will plead with the federal and the state government to do something about the insecurity on the road. With what I went through there I won’t have the courage to pass through that road again until security improves on it.

“When they released us, as we were about to leave, I asked them if they would attack me again on the road because it is a road that I ply frequently, they just laughed. But on a serious note if the state and the federal government does not do anything about security on the road I won’t take it again.”

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the man who went to the forest to pay the ransom, alleged security agencies did not intervene in the matter.

He said: “I didn’t start the negotiation, I was brought in when the captives told his wife to send my number. As negotiation continued, the ransom was suddenly increased by 100 per cent. Every attempt to negotiate reduction was met with threat to kill Pere. Our brother was crying for serious help as he and other captives were being tortured with machete cuts. After three days the ransom was gathered and was taken to them for the release especially when all efforts reporting to the government security agencies yielded no attention.

“They asked me to bring the money along the Sapele/Warri road to stop at Ibada Elume junction where they would direct me . It was agreed that I should come with a bus and not more than three persons including the bus driver. On reaching Ibada Elume, they asked me to proceed as if I was going to Sapele on a snail speed as they were watching me coming.

“Suddenly, they asked me to stop and reverse a little to take a foot path from the tarred road with the money. Not up to half a kilometer, someone whispered to me to change my direction into the forest. When I entered the forest, I met one young man who was masked up. He spoke to me in English with Fulani intonation to keep moving until I got to a point where they asked me to stop.

“He counted the money with four men armed with AK47 rifles surrounding me. After they confirmed the money, they asked me to find my way to where I came from which I did. They told me that my brother would call me.”

He added that the phone number the suspects used in negotiating ransom was later found to belong to another victim.