(Security): Bandits Stopped Maltreating me when they heard my Muslim Name

Nigeria becoming the headquarters of kidnapping in Africa is a matter of concern for all citizens. A lady by name, Aminat Taiwo, one of the freed victims of the recent abduction that took place along Lagos-Ibadan expressway has explained how she escaped. She was maltreated by her captors while she was in captivity, stating that other victims were brutally maltreated by the bandits.

In an exclusive interview with The Punch, Aminat disclosed that she had a horrible experience in captivity but she was not maltreated like the others. She said the bandits tied ropes around the men’s necks and dragged them around the bush while others were beaten mercilessly.

According to her, she was only pardoned because of her religion. Aminat admitted when the bandits asked for her name and she told them that she is Aminat, they cut her some slack, stating that she is a Muslim and they worship the same Allah. In her words, Aminat said, “I was not really maltreated because when I told them my name is Aminat, they said: ‘You are a Muslim, and we are worshiping the same Allah”.

Aminat further revealed that the bandits were putting on police and soldiers’ uniforms with their faces covered with masks and they were armed to the teeth, wielding AK-47, Knives and other dangerous weapons when they ambushed them on the road.

She recalled that the bandits did not take them to their main hideout, instead they were moving in the bush and they slept wherever the night meets them. She added that two people were able to escape on the first night but the bandits doubled up after that.

Aminat added that the bandits were Hausas but they understand and speak Yoruba fluently. She also revealed that many of the bandits were young and some of them can’t be older than 16 years old but they were all armed.

Despite her muslim background, which gave her amnesty from maltreatment, she disclosed that she was only released after ransom was paid. She noted that by the time she left, there were still many victims left in captivity. She said some had been shot and they had no access to medical treatment.

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