By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
As more gory details of the horror victims kidnapped by bandits in Kaduna go through, a bizarre incident has been revealed by one of those recently released from the 26 kidnapped from Ungwan Bulus, Sabon Tasha in Chikun LGA.
The victim, Mrs. Kubwai Paul who was abducted alongside three of her children, spent 29 days in captivity.
Mrs. Kubwai Paul, while fielding questions from New Nigerian Newspapers correspondent who visited her residence two days after she regained freedom, said that the bandits demanded for her baby to drain its blood and drink.
One would believe such could only be witnessed in horror movies, but as shocking as it was, it was recorded here in Kadunà, NIgeria.
that they came from church, as I entered room with children, they were eating and heard gunshots, they came out and saw kidnappers in their compound.
She recalled how it all happened on March 30, when the terrorists invaded her community.
“They entered our room and started asking us for money, they told us to sit down and they went to our landlords house and tried breaking in, they couldn’t and then came and told us to start moving towards the bush.
“We followed the culvert and went into the bush. I was carrying my youngest son, they said I should give him to them to suck his blood.
“I immediately started begging them to spare him and God made them to leave him,” she said.
According to her, “We walked for a while they said we should sit, we went inside the bush then they started bringing out the bikes and carried the children and the elderly that could not walk.
“We walked all through the night, by morning, they called their people to bring more bikes and carried us to the camp,” she revealed.
She described the experience at the bandits camp which lasted for 29 days as unpleasant.
“The experience in the camp was not pleasant. You dare not move without telling them, in the morning, they wake us up and tell us to sit down.
“If the person on guard is lenient, he will let us sleep in the afternoon if not, you dare not.
“Everyday they take us to the river to take our bath without soap, we use sand to scrub. Some days, they give us washing detergent to use as soap,” she revealed.
Mrs. Paul however, said that they didn’t starve, although the food served was not at its best, it helped them to stay alive.
“In the aspect of food, they were giving us food, though the rice and beans served was without any ingredients,” she said.
Recalling a sad incident that was recorded by their set of victims, she explained how three of them were selected and assassinated by the bandits to send strong warning to their families to hasten up payment of ransom.
“They killed one of my son’s who would have been 17 years tomorrow (Monday May 2).
“The day three of our people were killed, before the day, they called our spokesperson to tell them when he will bring their money. He told them on Monday, they then told him if he doesn’t bring the money, they will kill some of us.
“We had to do fasting and prayers from Sunday to that Monday. While we were sitting, they just came, and asked where are the Sabon Tasha people, asking for families that are more in number, from where they selected one each. One of those chosen was 19, mine was 17 and another man selling drugs.
“They said they were taking them home, since our people refused to pay. When they came back, they said they have killed them,” she said with tears swelling up in her eyes.
According to her, their captors warned them against crying on hearing the news of the death of the three.
“You dare not cry even if they kill someone, you cannot cry or anything you do without their permission, even standing from sitting.position, they will shoot or flog you,” she said.
When asked what the demands of the bandits are to the government she said they blamed the Kaduna State Government for not negotiating with them.
“They said it is as a result of the government, they are now telling el-Rufai to settle with them, that Zamfara Govt and Katsina Govt have settled with them, but el-Rufai has refused to settle with them. But it is we the masses that are feeling this thing,” she said.
According to her, while in the forest, they couldn’t say where exactly they were camped, but on the date they were released, April 30, they saw themselves on the Kaduna-Abuja highway around Rijana.
She said they were each given transport fare by the bandits and had to find their ways home seperately.
It was gathered by our correspondent that out of the 26 abducted from Ungwan Bulus on March 30, only 21 made it back home on April 30.
One was released few days after the abduction on health grounds, three were assassinated by their captors and one was said to still be in the kidnappers den, over failure of his family members to pay the ransom demanded.
It was also gathered that over twenty million Naira was raised by the community to secure their release.
The community a source said, also provided three new motorcycles worth N800,000 each and recharge vouchers for calls worth N500,000.
