A ‘kidnap’ victim, Abubakar Ahmed, on Monday in Ilorin, told a Kwara State High Court that he spent 20 days at the army barracks and paid N1m to regain his freedom.
The case was during the trial of the Serikin Fulani of Kwara, Alhaji Usman Adamu, and two others by the Kwara State government.
The Serikin Fulani and two others were accused of kidnapping the victim and “collected” a ransom of N1 million before his eventual release.
During the proceedings, the victim, Ahmad, who is also a vigilante member, told the court, “I was kidnapped on a Friday, last July, by three army personnel after a meeting with the chairman of a vigilante group in the state, Alhaji Saka.
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“They drove recklessly and overtook me. They ordered me into their Sienna car, took my car key and my phones. They tied my hands to the back and covered my face. All these happened in broad daylight, at about 3pm.
“What I later learnt when the vehicle stopped was that we were in army barracks, and the leader of Fulani in Kwara State, Alhaji Usman Adamu, later came in and called two of my abductors aside and told them in Hausa to tie me very well.
“When it was 20 days, one of the military men, Saro, came in at about 9pm and drove me in a vehicle with two other military personnel. We passed through Shao town, linking the Ilorin-Jebba expressway.
“We got to Olooru, Kambi Village, and the vehicle parked along the bush on the expressway. I was told to climb on a motorcycle, and that was when I saw Serikin Fulani of Kambi village, and we headed to the palace of Alhaji Adamu, where I saw my father, my two brothers, and two of my father’s friends.
“My brother then handed over N1m cash to Serikin Fulani of Kambi. And we left there to go home.”
During a cross-examination by counsel to Serikin Usman, Adebayo Adelodun SAN, Abubakar denied that he was asked during his stay in the army custody about the kidnapping of a Chinese that later died.
Barr Yahaya Aminu represented the Serikin Fulani Kambi, Malam Gidado.
Speaking after the proceedings, the state DPP, Ayoola Idowu Akande, who represented the attorney general, said four witnesses had so far been called.
The trial judge, Adenike Akinpelu, adjourned the case to January 18 for the continuation of hearing.
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