Entering a familiar space on a Thursday evening, typically dedicated to teaching, the narrator encounters Sam after a three-week absence. Shockingly, Sam reveals that he had been kidnapped, marking the first personal encounter with someone who has faced the terror of abductors in the current Nigerian landscape. Sam’s emotional and physical toll is evident, emphasizing the trauma endured during his ten days in captivity.
In and around Abuja, a surge in kidnappings has created a nightmare, prompting fears, crowdfunding efforts, and increased ransom demands. The chilling details of Sam’s ordeal, from enduring the elements in the open forest to witnessing the coercion of a fellow captive to stay alive, paint a grim picture of the growing crisis in the region.
The report delves into the disturbing trend of citizen commodification, where innocent individuals become victims of highly organized kidnappings, revealing a dark new business model in Nigeria. The questions raised about the origin, support network, and motivations of these criminal elements highlight the deeply troubling nature of the situation.
The narrative expands to include other tragic incidents, such as the targeted killing of individuals like Nabeeha and Folorunsho Ariyo in Abuja. The pervasive infiltration of kidnappers and bandits into Nigerian society is emphasized, leading to despair and a loss of trust among communities. The author calls for introspection, likening the internal strife to a form of selling each other, drawing a poignant parallel to historical transgressions.
The focus then shifts to Ibadan, where a residential area experiences devastation due to explosives, leaving Bodija in ruins. The aftermath is likened to a war-torn wasteland, questioning how a simple community could end up in such a heartbreaking state.
The narrative concludes with a somber acknowledgment of the challenges faced in Abuja, the destruction in Ibadan, and the disturbing persistence of neo-slavery. The plea for divine intervention echoes the collective sentiment of despair and uncertainty in the face of these tragic events.
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