My abductors were bringing food but I lacked the courage to eat

Between last Monday September 14 and Thursday 17, Toyin Nwosu, wife of the Sun newspaper’s Deputy Managing Director, Steve Nwosu, was held in a kidnappers’ den. Our correspondents bring the story of her captivity and release

Mrs. Toyin Nwosu

For Toyin Nwosu, wife of  The Sun Deputy Managing Director (DMD) Steve Nwosu, who was released by her abductors 72 hours after they took her away, nothing compares to freedom among your loved ones.
Toyin and her husband knew this very much and it is one reason many would find it difficult to blame them when the entire household erupted in wild jubilation when she regained her freedom. 
While reliving her experience in the kidnappers’ den, Toyin said the kidnappers treated her well and served her meals at regular intervals except that eating as a free person is different from eating while in captivity. “I lacked the courage to eat the meals,” she explained.
Dressed in black jeans top, blue leggings and a pair of slippers, Mrs Nwosu who came out to the balcony to briefly address journalists managed to put up a smile as she thanked all those who stood by her family during the trying time.
She said, “ I thank God and I thank President Muhammadu Buhari, The Sun newspaper staff, my colleagues at the local government,  NIPR members and our well-wishers. I did not even know that I am this popular. I want to thank everybody, including the media houses. God is just the ultimate. I thank you so much that I am alive and kicking. One thing I will tell Nigerians is if you are doing good, continue to do it. God will help us all.” 
Though a blood clot was noticeable around her right eye, the traumatised woman said the injury must have been caused by the leaves in the place she was taken to.
Close family sources said on the day of her release, Toyin was blindfolded before she led to the First Avenue/Amuwo Odofin Link bridge, which is less than 15 minutes’ drive to the Nwosus’ Ago Palace Way, Okota home. She was then asked to make a call to her husband who was expected to pick her. The kidnappers were said to have left immediately in a speed boat after the call to her hubby.
It was gathered that after the call at about 2:10 am, a rescue team of security operatives, led by the Lagos State Police Commissioner of Police himself, Fatai Owoseni, turned up and found Toyin on the bridge where she was left by the kidnappers.
Though there was a charge among the few journalists present to get more details of what transpired, Toyin and her husband said they had been directed by the police not to grant interviews to avoid contradictory reports.
Her husband, Steve said he did not know what happened before his wife was released, but he thanked all who helped the process. He said, “We just want to thank Nigerians and to say we are happy she was released in the wee hours of the day. I am sorry we might not be able to give the details because the Police who have been on the case all along said they will address a press conference and that we should not talk. We do not know how this happened; all we know is that we were asked to pick her up somewhere this morning. Incidentally, the security agents, including the Commissioner of Police, were there too. I really do not know what happened, but the important thing is that I have my wife back with me, she is back with us and we are grateful.” 
On the next line of action for the family, Nwosu said the first priority is for the wife to be treated. “For now, she is going to get treated by her doctor who will access her. If you have gotten used to having a wife when you get married and you discover that you cannot do any other thing without your wife, you will know how I felt when I didn’t have her for almost three days. We thank those who contributed to getting her freed. And I thank the government starting from the centre. The Inspector General of Police (IGP) who was personally on the matter. The Presidency through Mr. Femi Adesina. Even the state governor who called me. The Lagos state commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni. Department of the State Security (DSS). The Sesan family.
Even my former MD. Mr Orji Uzor Kalu was always on the case. Mr Eric Osagie who is not a boss but a brother. The role he played showed that he is more than a brother. All kinds of prayer warriors. My readers. Friends from across the country and abroad.
“I have four hundred and something prayer text messages on my phone. Family, friends; even elders who you don’t expect: Segun Osoba, Kemi Akintola; so many people even from far back there in Bayelsa, the state governor who called. Even Fayose. I’m happy because it is when things like this happen that you know that you are well loved. I am happy that my wife is back. She is not ill. I only have to ask her to get some rest because of the trauma she had so that she can get over it,” the SUN DMD said.
When asked if ransom was paid before his wife was released, Nwosu said that as a journalist it would be an uphill task for him to do so. He added, “Let the police say what they did and let Dr Kalu also say how this happened. All I know is that I got my wife back. What happened in between, I do not know.” 
While confirming the narration that he led the team who rescued Mrs Nwosu, the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni told Daily Trust on Sunday that he personally witnessed the re-union of the Nwosus after the release of the woman.
Though, he did not confirm if any money was paid as ransom, he asserted that effort was on to track down the kidnappers. 
The news of Toyin Nwosu’s abduction had spread like wildfire on Monday September 14, 2015. She was said to have been kidnapped in the early hours of the day when a seven-man gang invaded their residence at Bale Street, Ogundiaro Bashorun Sunmonu Akanwo Estate, Okota, Lagos.
The kidnapping gang were said to have gained entrance into a building close to Nwosu’s house with the aid of an abandoned ladder used to paint the building. Thereafter, they stormed Nwosu’s bungalow building by scaling the transformer fence and shifting the iron burglar-proof of the window and gaining entrance into the sitting room.
Before the operation at Nwosu’s house, the gang had first stormed one of the houses on the street, but the owner escaped and so they set off to Nwosu’s house. After the robbery, they took the victim and made their way to the canal where they had yet other gang members and the speedboat operator.
When Daily Trust on Sunday reached out to Nwosu to enquire what transpired, the SUN DMD had said: ”When they came, we thought they were armed robbers who had come to steal. But they just went for my wife and abducted her. That was it”.
Though Nwosu initially complained of not hearing from his abducted wife and the kidnappers, when they eventually did, it was a huge ransom they called for. While addressing journalists on the issue at his Okota residence Tuesday, a much troubled Nwosu said the kidnappers were asking for N100 million ransom.
“Apart from yesterday’s contact they established with me, the abductors of my wife have not made any other call. Presently, it is deadlocked and they have refused to cooperate. I have left everything to God, all I would say is that I am a poor journalist. I do not have the kind of money they are demanding,” Nwosu said.
Some Nigerians who have reacted on the abduction of Toyin Nwosu have had to charge government and its security agencies to do more in securing human lives and properties. Acting Director General of NIMASA, Haruna Baba Jauro recommended that kidnappers should face stiffer penalty because of some inhuman treatment which they met to their victims.
”Many of the victims will even be starved. Indicted kidnappers should be made to go through the same trauma which they force on their victims,” he said.
On his part, the Managing Director of NPA, Habib Abdulahi said Kidnappers are cruel and selfish. “That’s why they actually kidnap people either for ransom or they do it or ritual purpose. ”So since kidnappers sometimes kill their victims, why would they be allowed to jump bail if caught?” Abdulahi queried.
Also, Lagos Lawyer and Human Rights Activist, Chief Gabriel Giwa Amu argued that there should be stiffer penalty for kidnappers. ”A tooth should go for a tooth. In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person’s will.
It is also the crime of unlawfully seizing and carrying away a person by force or Fraud. Kidnappers of the wife of Nwosu should be made to face death penalty,” Amu said.