Human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who was released Thursday morning after 21 days in captivity, said his abductors have vowed to disrupt the 2015 general election and move against politicians if immediate steps were not taken to address youth unemployment and the high level of poverty in the nation.
Ozekhome, who narrated his ordeal in the hands of kidnappers, told journalists at his Lagos residence that his abductors were educated but desperate Nigerian youths.
He said his release was an "act of God", adding that he was overwhelmed by the concern shown to his abduction by many Nigerians.
The senior advocate said he was not aware if any ransom was paid to secure his freedom but that he was released along with 12 others about 7 am Thursday.
He said: “My ordeal began on Friday, August 23. I was not travelling in the night nor in the wee hours of the morning. I left Benin by 2 pm for my hometown, having lost the wheel drummer of the Ozekhome family, Alhaji Yakubu Ozekhome.
“I also intended to see some friends and go for an interview of the Knights of St. Mulumba on Saturday and proceed to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Calabar.
“I ran into the kidnappers some minutes past 3 pm. It was my driver, Chinedu, who noticed that a vehicle had been used to block the road and he told me it looked like those people were armed robbers. So I told him to quickly turn but before he could turn, a gun was already on my head, and the assailant warned that if I moved an inch, they would kill me.
“I told my driver to stay put. They dragged me out of the car, dragged Chinedu out, shot the tyre of the vehicle and locked him in the car boot and forced me to the ground. They said we should remain like that. I heard them shout police repeatedly and they vowed no retreat no surrender.
“I heard a staccato of bullets. It was like a war situation as they were firing continuously. And as they were firing, the car was moving. I heard them say that they killed some of them (the police) but that by tomorrow the police would claim they shot some of them (the kidnappers)."
He said despite his ordeal, he was thankful that they had been delivered safely and unhurt. According to him, “We were never profiled or targeted, they merely operated randomly. But it is bad news because it could have been any other person; bad news because it was when we were in the car that they started asking preliminary questions like my name.
“When I gave my name, they searched my pockets, took out my complimentary card and other things and confirmed I was who I said I was. They told me if I was lying, they would discover the truth by tomorrow from the press.
“We were driven through rough roads and through highways because we could feel it on the body as to the kind of path we were on for about four and a half hours. We were taken far away from civilisation.
“The kidnappers told me that they have cells across Nigeria and reminded me about the kidnap of a footballer’s father, among others. They said they are everywhere.
“We had a 24-hour guard at the building where we were held hostage. We even had women and little children also who were victims.”
Speaking on what he encountered during his days in captivity, Ozekhome called on the federal government to immediately grant amnesty to all kidnappers and institute a programme for all kidnappers.
“They told me that if they were given promises that they would not be killed, they were ready to agree to the deal,” Ozekhome said. The human rights activist said the current crop of kidnappers were well organised, adding that his abductors even brought a medical doctor who treated him for malaria and typhoid, when he fell ill.
He said his interactions with his abductors revealed that they were pushed into kidnapping due to unemployment and poverty. Ozekhome also appealed to the government not to neglect the families of the four policemen who were killed while trying to rescue him from his abductors.
On arriving his Lagos home, Ozekhome had shed tears as he embraced his wife, kissing her several times and muttering, “Thank You Jesus”, repeatedly.
While in the custody of his captors, the renowned lawyer had grown a beard. He was kidnapped along with a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Athanasius Ugbome close to Ehor, headquarters of Uhunmwode Local Government Area, along the Benin-Auchi federal highway, and had remained in captivity since then.
A few days ago, one of Ozekhome’s fellow captives, Ugbome, was released after an undisclosed sum of money was allegedly paid by his family. But the kidnappers were said to have placed a ransom of N100 million on Ozekhome because the abductors had come to the conclusion that the lawyer is a very rich man, and as such, the sum would have been chicken change to him.
However, his older brother, Dr. Francis Ozekhome, denied that a ransom was paid for his younger brother’s release.
The news of his release yesterday electrified Agenebode, his community, which had been distraught since his abduction. Wild jubilations greeted the town, as inhabitants of the place took to the streets, celebrating the release of their son.
Speaking to newsmen, another older brother, Chief Pius Ozekhome, said the people were joyous that after three weeks of captivity, their son had regained freedom from his captors. Similarly, the traditional ruler of the area, George Egiabhor, the Okopella-agbe of Weppa Wano, said the people would continue to remain grateful to God for the delivery.
In the same vein, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar expressed joy and relief at Ozekhome’s release. In a statement, Atiku said he was full of joy that the kidnap saga had come to an end.
He also offered his prayer for the quick release of the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger Delta, the Most Rev. Ignatius Katteh.
Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, also expressed joy over the release of Ozekhome. The governor, who had appealed to the kidnappers to release the famous lawyer unhurt, thanked God for his return home.
In the same vein, many lawyers who heaved a sigh of relief over the release, however harped on the fact that the nation was experiencing severe insecurity.
NBA, in a statement, called on the federal government to intensify efforts in providing solutions to the security challenges in Nigeria, adding that the primary purpose of government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens. NBA, through its president, Mr. Okey Wali (SAN), also called on the kidnappers to release Reverend Kattey.
Former NBA president, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), also called on Nigerians, professional associations, trade unions, market women and students to act collectively with a view to confronting this menace of kidnapping.
However, as Ozekhome and his family rejoiced over his release, the traditional ruler of Udo community and an in-law to the Benin traditional monarch, Patrick Igbinidu, was reportedly abducted by suspected kidnappers at his dukedom.
The traditional ruler, known as the Iyasere of Udo, was allegedly kidnapped at about 7 pm by a four-man gang while playing draft with his friends near his palace in the community and was forcibly taken away to an unknown destination in an Audi car.
The Chairman of Ovia South-West Local Government Area, Morrison Ogunrobo, confirmed the kidnap of the traditional ruler, adding that security operatives had been drafted to the area.
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