With the recent uproar over the increase in kidnapping incidents in the metropolis of Abuja, it will seem like very little is being done by appropriate security agencies in curbing this growing menace.
After weeks of the release of the 3 kidnapped friends in Wuse, a Twitter User Mustapha Ramalan took to his Twitter Account yesterday to reveal how he was almost kidnapped by a painted Abuja taxi driver, accompanied by a mobile police officer and another man.
Mustapha recounts his ordeal in the hands of the men in what seems like a failed kidnap attempt.
Mustapha wrote:
I will share a horrific experience that I went through right in the heart of Abuja today. The incident occured on Obafemi Awolowo, Jabi right beside Briscoe Motors.
At about 1200 hrs while I was driving home from gym, a green scruffy looking taxi stopped me on the middle of the road. The taxi was a green Toyota model Abuja Taxi, with no number plates. It had a car dealer ‘DKD’ number sticker.
Out jumped two men, one in mufti and the other in mobile police uniform directing me to STOP. The taxi driver sat.
I noticed the policeman’s uniform did not carry his names which is very odd. Still, I didn’t question their motives.
The man in mufti moved to my passenger window & demanded I park and because I was making a call. He was right so I obliged. I apologized but he seemed angry & insisted that I enter their car & said; “you must come with us to a mobile court”.
At this point i resisted and demanded identification from him. He went berserk, started shouting & threatening me.
Shocked and suspicious, I placed a call for help. He became angrier, saying I am a “stupid Northern boy” & a “monkey”.
He began to deflate my car tyre. I decide to record him in this action because at the time there were no witnesses. Then he threatened to “put me in their car booth”. I reacted, he hit the phone of my hand & it turned physical.
The police man panicked & began to query his own accomplice. At this point I really became suspicious of these people.
I was angry, I resisted & braced for a duel with this psycho who seemed to me not only dangerous but a bigot.
To my shock, he went into his car, carried a bottle & attacked me. I dodged but got slightly hit for my troubles. He hit me with a bottle of Star. I am lucky, at least I am not blind.
By now, a huge crowd was gathering but this guy wasn’t done, he brought out a scissors from his car & threatened to kill me.
Luckily for me, people were now around & disarmed him. By this time, the man in police uniform had disappeared.
He tried to enter the taxi & drive off but was stopped by a huge number of people that had converged on the scene.
I told the people that I had placed calls & a police formation are on the way to carry both of us to the Force HQ.
Again he ranted & tried to enter a passing tricycle, but was again detained & by now the people kept surveillance on him
Minutes later I realized the taxi man had drove off. So the man’s driver and his ‘so called’ police pal had absconded. Even still, I did not realize these people might be dangerous criminals. I assumed the police man ran to save his job and I assumed at the time that the taxi man left because “well, he didn’t care”.
From nowhere, two female traffic wardens appeared and requested to hear both our stories. He told them “I was on the phone, he stopped me, I abused him” He even claimed “I tried to stab him with a knife”.
I didn’t have to speak as everyone there saw what transpired from the moment he hit me with a bottle, so people spoke for me.
The two police ladies are stationed on Obafemi Awolowo Way by Briscoe Motors junction almost everyday. They pleaded with me to allow the matter & let him go. One of them used the words “I am old enough to be your mother”.
I obliged. I patted my potential kidnapper on the back, made my way home with my bloodied eye and a headache. Now, it was only after I entered my house that it dawned on me… this may have actually been a kidnap attempt. I became extremely stressed by the mere thought. This man seemed so aggresive & showed genuine hatred and violence.
I am 100% certain this man & his pals were not real police men. He did tried to run away twice but was detained. What if they took me? He was ready to break a bottle on me & stab me in public. I Imagined what he will do in private?
In hindsight, there was even a road safety team parked less than 50 meters from the incident. He didn’t call them over. My crime was using a phone to make a call while driving. He did not report to the standby road safety. Of course, I regret letting him go. I strongly believe these criminals will make more attempts on unsuspecting citizens.
Indeed soon after I entered my house, real police men appeared. They consoled me, I compensated them and they left. What’s going on as it relates to kidnaps is scary. I am lucky not to be the latest kidnapped face being shared here.
This Government is NOT dealing with the matter as it should. On kidnappings, they are sleeping, pure & simple. I am sharing my ordeal so that we are more vigilant, more careful and so that we protect ourselves. Threat is real!
Allah has protected me today. May He protect us all. Aameen
12. Here he threatened to "put me in their car boot". I reacted, he hit the phone of my hand & it turned physical. #Abujakidnappings pic.twitter.com/MRbeflZ7uA
— Mustapha (@mustafaramalan) February 21, 2017
