By Amos Aar
THE FORMER chairperson of Gwer West LGA of Benue State, Mrs Eunice Mbajwa, has regained freedom.
National Record reported weekend that Mrs Mbajwa was abducted last Friday from her farm along Makurdi-Naka Road,
When our correspondent visited her Makurdi residence on Sunday, the victim, who was freed on Saturday narrated to sympathizers what she passed through in the hands of her captors and how she regained freedom.
Although the ex-council boss did not disclose how much ransom was paid, a source close to her told our correspondent that the adductors first demanded N5 million, they later reduced it to N3 million even as the husband was pleading with them to take N1 million as he could not afford the N3 million.
She called on the security agencies in the state and the country at large to step up their responsibility of protecting lives and property of citizens
“They kidnapped me on my farm and took me to Agii close to the riverside. My legs were swollen as I trekked with them throughout that night. They even took me back to Lower Benue here. The security of this country is not trying at all.”
On how she was rescued, Mrs Mbajwa said her husband sent ransom to the kidnappers who insisted that only the phone number through which he was communicating with them be used until they would collect the money. So, he gave his phone to a messenger to go and meet them. On getting to a location where the deal was sealed, the abductors seized the husband’s phone including the messenger’s phone in addition to the abductee’s phone and they freed her without security intervention.
Mrs Mbajwa who appealed to youths to engage themselves in useful ventures and avoid acts inimical to the society appreciated her family members and friends for their show of love and solidarity which ensured her quick and safe release. she also expressed gratitude to the people of Benue State for standing by her during her trying time while in captivity.
On his part, husband of the victim, Mr Nicholas Mbajwa, a retired internal auditor with the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), Abuja and former accountant with Mobile Telephone Network (MTN), called on the security agents to intensify surveillance on Naka-Makurdi road to curtail the incessant kidnappings along the route, and appreciated all those who assisted in the safe release of his wife.
National Record gathered that the Agii hideout was bombed in the past and the kidnappers left the den but they have returned fully now.
