A 20-year-old student at Kaduna State University, Maimunatu Sani, who was abducted on November 14, 2023, in Kaduna after picking up a call from an unknown caller talks to TEMITOPE ADETUNJI about her experience
When were you abducted?
My name is Maimunatu Sani. I live in Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna, in Kaduna State. I am 20 years old and I am a student at Kaduna State University. The incident happened on November 14 around 10 am in Kaduna.
What were you at that time?
My mum sent me to a point of sale centre to withdraw some money. The PoS centre was not far from our house. The reason for going there was that my mum’s brother sent her some money through my account. My mum asked me whether I received the money, and I told her that I didn’t. She suggested that I go and make a withdrawal of N1,000 so that we could get a debit alert, at least to confirm whether the money was received. When I got to the PoS centre, there was a network issue, but I told the PoS attendant, our neighbour, to give me N5,000, and that my mum told me to buy her some vegetables. He gave me the money, and I left. Later, I received a call from an unknown number, and the only thing I could remember was that I picked a call from an unknown number. Some of my neighbours said they saw me near a filling station not far from the PoS shop, standing there with a man, a stranger, but they didn’t know what was going on.
When did you realise you were in danger or that something was wrong?
I just opened my eyes and found myself in a strange house. I didn’t know how I got there; it was indeed strange, an experience I had never had before in my life. It was a very big place that looked like a sitting room. I was scared and couldn’t even raise my head to look at the environment and the people around me.
Were you the only person abducted?
No, I wasn’t the only person abducted. In fact, many girls who were my peers were also there. My issue wasn’t kidnapping per se; it was a case of human trafficking. When they called my parents and demanded a ransom of N3m, they threatened my parents on the phone, saying that if they didn’t pay the money on time, they wouldn’t kill or hurt me. Instead, they said they would arrange a visa and send me to Qatar, where I would be used as a maid, and they would be the ones receiving my monthly pay.
I was devastated; it was a very tough time for me. Up to this moment, I keep wondering how I was entrapped.
What other worries did you have?
I was worried about my parents, friends, and family. I wasn’t myself; I wasn’t in the right frame of mind.
Were there any moments where you thought about reaching out to someone for help secretly?
Yes. It was a scary moment. All the girls who were abducted, including me, had to bow down their heads because we were scared, not knowing what would happen.
Did you recognise anyone there?
I couldn’t make eye contact with any of the abductors, so I couldn’t recognise any of them.
How many days were you held in their custody?
I was held in their custody for two days before my release. After my parents paid the ransom, I was released in the evening around 5 pm. They dropped me off somewhere.
How did you feel when the ransom was paid and you were released?
I felt that my family made a very big sacrifice for me, all to see me come out alive. They showed me love and tried their very best. I am grateful to them.
It was indeed a tough situation; I can’t really explain it. Before my parents agreed to pay the ransom, my mum requested to hear my voice so that they would be sure it was me. The abductors gave me the phone, and immediately I called my mum’s name, they collected back the phone.
How did they do that?
They pushed me out of the car and drove off. A man who saw me being pushed out of their car asked me what happened. I couldn’t speak well but pleaded with the man to help me with a phone so that I could contact my family member. He gave me his phone, and I called my dad who told me he had been on his way.
Did they tell your dad where they would drop you?
They told him they would drop me somewhere. He asked me if I could describe the place where I was, and I told him that I couldn’t. So, he told me to give the phone to the man who lent me his phone, and the man described the location where I was. My dad and my brother came to pick me up.
Can you describe how you felt when you saw them?
I was extremely happy to see them. I was glad they saw me alive and hearty. I felt like I had been away from them for years. They hugged me; my dad comforted me and told me to calm down and not to bother myself with anything. He said that the most important thing was that I had been released. When I got home, my mum hugged me too; she was very excited. I know she must have been extremely worried.
Were you assaulted or harassed by the kidnappers?
My mum asked me whether they (kidnappers) did anything to me or tortured me, and I told her there was nothing of such. She insisted on taking me to the hospital, and the doctor confirmed that I was fine and no harm was done to me.
Was the incident reported to the police?
After leaving the hospital, my parents and I went to the police station to report the issue, and the police took our statement. They also promised to investigate the matter.
Did you get feedback from the police when you reported?
Yes, days after, we heard that they had been able to arrest two people among the people who abducted me. I am an iPhone user, and the police were able to track my phone and find the location where the abductors were. They went directly to the house, met a woman there, and she was arrested. They later arrested her brother after she confessed that it was what they did for a living. So, the police are still working on the investigation to date, and the people arrested have been taken to the state criminal intelligence department.
How did you cope while waiting for the ransom to be paid?
I was unhappy and emotional about it. I wasn’t in the right frame of mind, up till this moment. It is an incident I will never forget. I do not pray for anyone to go through that kind of experience. It was a sad one.
Did you ever have any hope or optimism that you would be released?
I wasn’t sure, but I had faith in God.
How has this experience changed your perspective on life and personal safety?
It made me realise that anything can happen with the twinkle of an eye. We just have to be prayerful and careful. It made me realise how important it is to always be vigilant, prayerful, and careful. People should stop picking wrong numbers; there are lots of evildoers using wrong numbers.
How has your family been helping you heal from the trauma?
I received support from the community, family, and friends. They gave me emotional support. When they heard I had been released, they came to check on me. I am sure before my release, I must have been in their prayers. The situation I found myself in increased my faith in God. It made me believe more in God and brought me closer to God. I make sure I don’t miss any of my daily prayers.
