My ordeal in kidnappers den, by MDG ambassador

AWKA—MR. Marshal Chukwdike, a Millennium
Development Goal, MDG, Ambassador,
yesterday narrated his ordeal in the hands of
his abductors, who kept him in their den for
seven days while demanding ransom of N150
million.
Though Chukwudike declined to say how much
his family paid for his release, it was gathered
that N5 million was eventually paid after
several negotiation as the abductors who
earlier demanded N150 million had to come
down when it became obvious that the family
could not pay them more.
The MDG Ambassador, a native of Eziagu,
Anambra State, was among four persons,
including two traditional rulers, kidnapped in
the state penultimate week.
He was kidnapped in the state capital by a
nine-man heavily armed kidnap gang at Kwata
junction, along Onitsh / Enugu expressway. .
Reliving his ordeal after visiting the state
commissioner of police, Mr. Ballah Nasarawa,
Chukwudike said the kidnappers blind folded
him, tied his hands and legs and drove him to
an unknown destination but said, however, he
was not tortured by his abductors.
He said: “I just finished a meeting with one of
the governorship aspirants, who is a friend of
mine in the state at Finotel Hotels on Tuesday
last week and as I was driving along the
express at Kwata junction, some men came out
with their vehicle doors wide open and pointed
guns at me.
“They ordered my brother to run away and
opened fire on my Chrysler car radiator and
whisked me away. I did not know where they
took me to.
“To be sincere, the people were kind to me.
They offered me food but I refused and on the
third day, I had to eat because I am an ulcer
patient. They told me that they were not after
my life but after my money.
“What I can remember is that there was a
house where I was kept.  it was a horrible
experience and I was blindfolded for the seven
days.
He said that four of the kidnappers said they
were graduates, and that what lured them into
kidnapping was lack of empowerment.