I’d given up, Bishop Kukah’s brother narrates ordeal in kidnappers’ custody
By Jeffrey Agbo
Brother of Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Ishaya Kukah, has narrated the difficulties faced while he was in the custody of his abductors.
Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 1 Division recently rescued Kuka and over 50 others.
Speaking on Tuesday after being received by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, in Abuja, Kukah said: “Frankly speaking, I had already given up. I didn’t think I would come out alive because of how they were treating us in the bush. We suffered too much. They used to chain us in twos. If you wanted to defecate or urinate, you had to move together.”
He described how victims were pressured into agreeing to ransom demands due to the torture they endured.
“They beat you so badly that you’re forced to say you’ll give money. If they notice you’re reluctant, they’ll beat or even kill you,” he added.
Expressing his gratitude, Kukah said, “If not for the Federal Government, we would still be in the bush. Thank you for what you have done. God bless you.”
Another rescued victim, Michael Adesanya, Deputy Director at the National Assembly Commission, who was abducted from his residence in Kubwa. Abuja, advocated a non-combative approach to tackling banditry.
He said the bandits, mostly aged between 17 and 21, were stark illiterates and victims of circumstance.
“I was chained for 32 days. Most of them can’t even count up to a million. They don’t know what they’re doing. Instead of killing them, the government should arrest, educate, and rehabilitate them. Some of them want to learn trades. They can still be useful,” he said.
Mr Adesanya, who was kidnapped on January 26 and released on April 7, recounted how his wife was killed in his presence.
“When they kill someone in front of you, you’ll give them anything they want. They killed my wife before me. In that moment, if they asked for my head, I would have given it.”
Speaking while receiving the rescued victims, Ribadu said the operation was the result of ongoing military efforts under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
“Daily, we are restoring order, security, and stability. We will not relent until these criminals are brought to justice,” Ribadu said.
He also urged families of kidnapped victims not to pay ransom, warning that it fuels the cycle of criminality.
“I want to also use the opportunity to talk to our people. Please, stop giving money to these people. It’s one of the worst things that is happening. It’s the most difficult thing we are facing. Many of these people, as you see them, their families have given money to these people.
“The more you give, the more you are compounding the problems for us. We have never given anybody a dime. We don’t. And we don’t want people to do so. Please, stop it.
“We are saying enough is enough. We will not be able to stop this thing quickly if people continue to give them money. I want to make a very strong appeal to all. It’s understandable. When someone of yours is in captivity, you will do whatever it takes for you to get him back. But this is counter-productive.
“It is actually encouraging for it to continue. The whole essence is to get money. And if you continue to give them, you are actually saying go and do more and more,” Ribadu said.
He urged Nigerians to give the government a chance to tackle insecurity by not paying ransom to kidnappers.
“We are appealing to our people, to the country, to everybody, that please, let’s stop giving this money. Give us a chance for us to do the work. We will get it done,” he said.
