An indigene of Oyo State, Baraka Abdulkarim who spent 13 days in captivity has narrated what she went through and how she survived through her dark moment in the hands of her abductor.
Baraka, the final year student of the School of Health, Makarfi, Zaria, speaks with Punch Correspondents, narrating the tricks used by abductor to lure her and others into forest on her way to Katsina.
The 26 years old Baraka told Punch that his mum hails from Oyo town while her father is from Ogbomoso Ayilara in Oyo State.
While revealing the events leading to her abduction, Baraka said she was coming back from school in Zaria and heading to Funtua in Katsina state. On the fateful day, she said there was no taxi at the park and she decided to join car along the road, she added that another woman with six children joined her in the car. She recalled that the driver of the car stopped when they got to a village called Maraba Maska on the ground that his car’s fuel has exhausted. She explained further that the driver called another car fro them which they joined.
Baraka said there were four men in the new car they joined including driver. She recalled that all of them were Fulani. She said when she reached Funtua Junction, where she supposed to alight, the driver ignored and drove off.
Baraka said she started crying when she realized she has been kidnapped along with the woman with six children.
Baraka said all victims trekked from night of December 1, 2024 the incident happened to the following morning around 5am before they reached hideout of the abductors. She recalled that two of the woman’s children were killed by the kidnappers on the ground that they were not moving fast.
‘’They kept us in thatched hut, tied our hands and legs with big chains and padlocked them. We urinated, and defecated on our bodies. We couldn’t bathe as we were chained. I even started and finished my menstruation in captivity I was supposed to menstruate for three days, but it lasted 10 days due to anxiety.’’
While speaking on how her family was contacted, Baraka said they asked if she knew her Mum’s phone number after 4 days in captivity. She said she gave them her uncle’s phone number because her mum was in hospital awaiting surgery.
On ransom paid before she regain her freedom, Baraka said they demanded for N20million but his uncle said he can’t raise it and bargain for N3million, two smartphones with three cameras, and N50,000 worth of Airtel recharge cards.
What amazes her again was that the person her uncle sent to deliver the money and other items was not released. She said they demanded for another ransom to release the guy.
