Nigerian man, Joel Maiwada has narrated how he was kidnapped by Fulani Herdsmen on his way to Jos on 9th January, 2022.
Maiwada, in a lengthy Twitter thread narrated his ordeal in the hands of the herdsmen. He said the car he was in was accosted on Vom/Gyle road, Jos by the kidnappers who tried to Kidnap a car at their front but failed as the car bypassed them with speed.
The social media user who has regained his freedom after his family negotiated a ransom of N10 million from the kidnappers said they asked him if he is a Christian or Muslim.
When he told them that he is a Christian, they intensified the beating and told him that he has entered their hand and they don’t mind if he dies or live, either way, it’s a win win for them.
Read below his account on how he was kidnapped by Fulani Herdsmen.
https://twitter.com/joelmaiwada/status/1481721151109935107?t=gOox35-Hl3X-ndp7312Xpg&s=19
HOW I WAS KIDNAPPED BY FULANI HERDSMEN ON SUNDAY THE 9TH OF JANUARY,2022 ON MY WAY TO JOS AT VOM/GYEL ROAD.
I, my brother and our niece was going to Jos and we were trying to catch up cause it was getting late. When we got to vom,we were happy cos we that place to Jos ain’t far.
On passing a small village,a Volkswagen Sharon overtook us and we were just following the vehicle because the driver seems to know the the road very well. About a kilometre after the village we saw 2 guys walking by the road side as if they were going to the next village.
I was happy because it’s not too dark and people were still moving, it was about 7:15pm. Few metres after passing those guys,then we saw Fulani guys with torchlights flashing at the Volkswagen Sharon filled with passengers and the driver stopped.
At first,we thought they were security men, but I later discovered they were not on uniform. My brother was driving and I was sitting on the passenger’s seat. I told him to reverse immediately but he was a bit late cause he panicked. Then the Sharon in front of is reversed and hit our car, then he charged at them cos and they all shifted and he ran away. Before we could reverse,one of the Fulani guys threw his stick and hit my brother(the driver) in the eye and he lost control, then we reversed and hit a rock, we couldn’t even move,so I stepped out.
Of the vehicle and started running,found a swampy place covered with trees beside the road but the chased after me. They we 11 in number, I couldn’t escape because some of them were ahead of me waiting, they planned everything. So I threw my phone inside the swampy place.
So they started beating me with their gun handles and sticks, pushed me back to the car and they started robbing me, meanwhile by brother and my niece hid somewhere when the terrorists were after me, which they later came out to join me in pleading.
We told them to carry anything they see but they should spare us, but they refused, they collected our phones, laptops and our clothes, then they took me and my niece away. Meanwhile, they hit my brother and thought he was dead so they ignored him, I pleaded for them to free my niece.
And after plenty arguments within them,they told her to go back and they took me away. Then, they asked me “are you a Muslim or a Christian?” In Hausa language and I told them I was a Christian, then they said “you have entered our hand”, and the intensified the beating.
That’s how we started trekking from Vom around 7:30pm to Hawan Kibo hills at 4am. We climbed mountains,walked in Valleys at nights,I almost fell of a cliff, but they still don’t care, they said it’s a win win because they will sell my organs if I fall and die.
We walked and walked and walked for so many kilometres and anytime I told them I need to rest even if it’s for 1 minute, they’ll intensify the beating, until we reached the cave where they kept me. On entering the cave, it was dark and I saw to big bright lights moving inside.
I was scared so I jumped out and told them to come and check the cave, only to discover that it was a gigantic snake, I think I only see that size at Nat Geo wild… it took them about 15 minutes to kill the snake,they were busy shooting the snake till it stops moving.
After removing the snake,they still push me into the cave, tied me and they started partying. They have crates of Can beers and a bluetooth wireless speaker, they drank and danced to Naija music, they can sing the songs word for word, especially Joeboy’s Alcohol, it’s on repeat.
They wouldn’t even let me sleep for a second,if I close my eyes, they’ll use gun to hit my on the head,I was bleeding and they don’t care. We were on top of the mountain and the weather was extremely cold, I was shivering and all they enjoy doing aside the celebration is beating me.
That’s how we stayed till day break and they started telling me to start calling my people, that they gave me 24 hours to live. If I call a number and they didn’t pick or the line is off, fresh beating will start, until I was able to get my younger brother @maiwadar (God bless you)
Then the negotiations started,they requested for 10 million naira as ransome for my release. Anytime the negotiation did not favour them, they’ll start beating me. During the day, I engaged some of them with gist, asked them some few questions.(gist for another day).
Beside me human bones scattered inside the cave,I asked them whose bones were those, they said some people killed their family member,that they refused coming to pay ransom,so they allowed the guy to die of hunger (heartless people). They said that’s how they will starve me too
They left me without even drinking water,I pleaded with them but they refused,I waited and waited for while praying my last prayers because they already called the people buying organs and they also have an operation to go again that evening.
I have a lot to say and I haven’t even tell you guys how God did it for me and so many things I saw.
I want to Appreciate God for coming through for me and also for my family members.
