Ezekiel Olaifa
Today, six years ago, I went through a dreadful experience of being kidnapped – an ordeal that remains etched in my memory, changing my mind, thoughts, and being forever.
It happened exactly six years ago, Sunday, March 22, 2020. I woke up to keep a political, initiated charity appointment with Chief Olugbenga Ale, then Chief of Staff to Governor Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu in Owo. The meeting was brief, and I set out after 11 am to return to Lagos, my base. There were five of us in my SUV truck.
The journey from Owo to Ore was smooth until I was about ten kilometers after Ore, at Omotoso. I had a burst tyre at about 1 o’clock. I tried to replace it with the help of Yellow, a towing vehicle driver stationed there. I joined him in his vehicle to get another tyre because we couldn’t remove the spare tyre due to stiffness. I got to Ore town, bought a fairly used tyre, and returned to the incident spot. The tyre was replaced around 3 o’clock. I moved with the other four people to continue the journey. Within ten minutes on the highway, I spotted three gunmen in the middle of the road, less than 10 poles away. I carefully reduced my speed, planning to turn around towards Ore, but before I could, gunshots filled the air. I saw hoodlums and disgusting men from all sides, coming for us.
The three young University students in my vehicle unlocked the rear doors and bolted out. The wicked Fulani herdsmen marauders/kidnappers entered my vehicle and ordered us down. One student, a female, returned to join her mom. Her mom, she, and I were forcibly marched into the forest. My freedom was seized! I wanted it to be a dream, but it wasn’t. A reality as a captive in the hands of unrepentant men began at the start of the COVID-19 epidemic. We were herded like cows in the forest. They asked about our professions and income. A ransom of ₦50m was placed on me. Others were ₦25m and 10m naira respectively. I called my second son, Olalekan, whom I’d spoken with shortly after replacing the tyre – less than 20 minutes before. I fearfully told him I’m in captivity. Olalekan couldn’t take it as reality that I was in a den of daring death. Alas, it was.
My journey into traumatic events began immediately. Olalekan contacted my firstborn, Olabanji – he’s far more mature! I was lucky he was in the country. He and Chief Olugbenga Ale started negotiating for my freedom. Due to poor negotiations and nightfall, we moved deeper into the forest. Beaten, barefoot, and struggling with unfamiliar terrain, we were treated like their cows.
At night, after the stopover at the first spot of interactions with family and acquaintances for help seeking for the price placed on each of us on Day one, little was achieved; we were monitored, heavily gun-guided with stern warnings, and rested on a hot rock. On two occasions, the sound of a strange motorcycle was heard, and our captors met with the riders and returned to us on the rocks. Tutorials on survival began.
Another life started as imprisoned beings! More to it as we faced new, unexpected circumstances!
As we progress, more will be revealed.
A short break for another day!
Thank you, my Father, my Lord God this Day.
What an amazing adventure and anniversary!
