House of Representatives member, Mr. Garba Umar-Durbunde who was kidnapped by armed on Tuesday and later released on Wednesday after paying a huge ransom has this to say about what happened to him in captivity.
![](http://www.tori.ng/userfiles/image/2017/jun/02/Sumaila-Takai.jpg)
According to The Punch, Umar-Durbunde, who represents Sumaila/Takai Federal Constituency of Kano State, was freed by the kidnappers on Wednesday night after paying a sizeable ransom.
The incident took place in Jere, along the Abuja-Kaduna Road, as the lawmaker was driving to Kano from Abuja.
Speaking exclusively with The Punch on Thursday, Umar-Durbunde said his abductors were 14 in number and that they were all “well armed with deadly weapons.”
He disclosed that they threatened to slaughter him if he would not produce a reasonable amount of money.
Describing the encounter as “terrible,” the All Progressives Congress member narrated further, “I spent over 21 hours with them and they released me about 7.30pm.
“They kidnapped me and I travelled with them for over four hours into the bush from point to point.
“I met 14 of them; they were armed to the teeth. They all carried guns, daggers and knives; it was terrible.
“At a point, they threatened that they would slaughter me. Those people are fearless, ruthless; they can kill anybody.”
Although, he admitted that ransom was paid, Umar-Durbunde declined to give the figure.
However, unconfirmed sources said N10m was raised to secure the lawmaker’s freedom. The kidnappers reportedly demanded N60m initially.
According to Umar-Durbunde, the moment the kidnappers pulled him out of his vehicle, they saw his red cap and concluded that he was a political associate of a former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
“They said I was a Kwankwaso ally,” he added.
He said though he was unharmed, he had to undergo immediate medical check-up after he was released because of the psychological trauma he faced in the hands of the kidnappers.
“My brother, I thank God that I am now stable. But, I must tell you that yesterday (Wednesday), I couldn’t sleep.
“The experience was terrible and nobody should pray for it,” he stated.
0 Comments