Professor Sumaila Joseph Obansa, a member of the University of Abuja’s staff who was kidnapped by terrorists in the early hours of Tuesday, November 2, 2021, has recounted his ordeal.
WITHIN NIGERIA reports that the gunmen initially kidnapped Obansa and his two children before releasing one of them to return that fateful day.
The economics professor claimed he never believed he would suffer the agony he did at the hands of his kidnappers.
He stated:
“They made us walk for a long time, day and night, and during the day they blindfolded us.” They didn’t let us eat anything except garri, which they served us with dirty water once or twice. After a lengthy trip, I couldn’t move again, and they booted me and threatened to waste me if I didn’t stand up. My son had to assist me in getting up. It was a terrifying event; I had never trekked for so long in my life. You will not even want this on your worst enemy. I had no choice but to pray to God for protection. Thank God, our prayers, as well as the prayers of everyone who cared, were answered. And God used our university leaders, security officers, and other well-wishers to ensure that we are finally secure.”
Professor Bassey Ubom, also known as Oboskolo, was quick enough to flee.
When he returned, he was greeted with the harsh truth of the gunmen’s unwelcome visit: they had gone with his wife (who was soon freed), his nine-year-old son, and his daughter.
“It is not an experience you would wish on your worst enemy,” he remarked, recalling the encounter. I’ve never felt more humiliated in my life. And it was awful to know that you were here while your loved ones were in the forest with criminals. You had moments when you wondered if you should have stayed with them. With the benefit of hindsight, I now realize that God had a role in my escape because I needed to be here to rally the others whose loved ones had been kidnapped, console them, and, most importantly, engage in high-level negotiations with those forces who were demanding exorbitant ransoms.
The ordeal we endured at the hands of those kidnappers can only be imagined. It’s pitiful to feel so humiliated and so helpless. To say the least, what my children went through was heartless and inhuman. I mean, subjecting a nine-year-old youngster to such physical and psychological abuse is evil. But our people labored and prayed, and we are grateful that God has answered us. We would like to thank all of the security personnel who assisted in the rescue of our members. We appreciate our inimitable vice-chancellor, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, our compassionate council chairman, Professor Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed, the University’s top safety officer, and friends, colleagues, and well-wishers who never deserted us throughout these tough times. We are pleased with all of you. God bless you.”
Dr. Tobins Ferguson Hamilton
When the gunmen gained entrance to Dr. Tobins Ferguson Hamilton’s residence at the University Staff Quarters on that fateful Tuesday, he went into hiding.
They assumed he was on the roof and began shooting infrequently. Fearing for his life from the gunmen’s gunshots, he submitted and came down.
“That’s how they started ruthlessly beating me,” he explained. They matched me out for us to begin a very lengthy journey into the forest, through rivers and bushes for several hours. They did not blindfold us throughout the night, but when it was daylight, they blindfolded us so that we couldn’t see or identify any of them.
“During the day, they abandoned us in a cornfield, and we’re still keeping an eye on them.” My leg was swollen because I’d never been forced to walk like that before. The panic, the horror, was out of this world. Then we noticed that they had begun to converse and negotiate with our contacts, and we were grieved, praying that whatever it was, God would bring it to a successful conclusion.
“Thank God, we made it home safely and without major injuries.” The findings of several of my tests were frightening when I was taken to the hospital after we were rescued. Then, with prompt therapy, I began to improve. This is not an experience I will soon forget.
You know what I mean; you were up against a group of criminals armed with life ammunition, and you knew that if anything went wrong, they could simply pump the bullets into your brain and call it a day. We must applaud the tenacity of the University administration, security services, and everyone who stood by us in the face of this heinous attack on innocent professors. “I leave everything in God’s hands.”
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