(Picture used for illustration purpose)
In a recent report by The VANGUARD, Linus Chukwuma shared his traumatic experience of being kidnapped alongside his friend Tony by herdsmen in Anambra State. Chukwuma recounted the chilling demands made by their captors, who threatened their lives and demanded a ransom of 60 million naira. The kidnappers warned that failure to meet this demand would result in tragic consequences for both men.
The harrowing ordeal began on a Friday evening when the kidnappers moved Chukwuma and Tony from the forest to another undisclosed location, marking their first night in captivity. Before allowing them to rest, the kidnappers instructed the two men to contact their families and friends to arrange for the exorbitant ransom. They menacingly stated that if the ransom was not paid, the money would be used to fund their funerals instead.
In the face of such terrifying threats, Chukwuma found himself overwhelmed by fear and shock, struggling to recall any phone numbers to contact for help. Amidst the emotional turmoil, he could only remember the phone number of his elder brother, emphasizing the intense psychological impact of their captivity.
In his words, "Then around 8 pm on the same Friday, they moved us away from the forest to another location where we spent the first night in captivity. But before we slept, they asked Tony and me to call our family and friends to arrange for 60 million naira ransom each or they would use the money for our funerals. At that time I was devastated and in a state of shock that I didn’t remember any person’s phone number to call except my elder brother."