I trekked for 11 hours barefooted – Sokoto official relive ordeal with kidnappers

Sokoto State Special Adviser on Special Duties, Sa’idu Muhammad Gumburawa has recounted his ordeal in the hands of kidnappers who kept him captive for eight days.

In an exclusive interview with Caliphate Trust, he recalled that the kidnappers came to his house at Gumburawa village in Wamakko Local Government Area on November, 9 at around 1:40am.

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The five kidnappers, armed with AK47 rifles, broke into his second wife’s room and threatened to kill her if she shouted.

“They then took her 11-year boy away  and she rushed and informed me in my first wife’s room.

“I then ran out and met them waiting outside my house. I pleaded with them to release my son and take me, which they did without hesitation.

“We trekked for like 35 kilometres before a car came, picked us and drove towards Tangaza side. The car dropped us near a forest in Tangaza Local Government Area from where we trekked for another 12 hours deep into the forest. I did not have shoes and sustained some injuries on my feet.

“When we reached where their motorcycles were hidden, they took me to where their den was located where I stayed for eight days.

“They told me that they were sent to kill me but decided not to do so because of my old age. They, however, demanded for N30 million to set me free and I told them I don’t have such money.

“That was how the negotiation started and they were paid some amount of money before releasing me,” he said

He, however, refused to reveal how much was paid as his ransom.

He  said he was being given three square meals  a day and was allowed to say his five daily prayers until one day when one of their leaders, who came to the camp, threatened to kill him if he prays again.

He advised the government against negotiating with the bandits because it would not solve the problem.

According to him, these miscreants are scattered into groups and it would be very difficult for the government to negotiate with all of them.

“I am advising the government not to enter into any kind of negotiation with them. The government, especially, the federal government should come out with ways of ending banditry and kidnapping before it becomes totally out of control,” he said.