Driver of a car-hailing service, Kingsley, took to Twitter on October 7 to recount the tale of how he was kidnapped, his escape, and how he suffered extortion after reporting his heartbreaking experience to operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Read his story below
I am a ride-hailing driver who picked up 3 riders from Eleganza before Lekki 2nd toll gate and headed to Oshodi at about 9:45 pm on Wednesday 23nd Sept 2020. On the way, one of them said he would stop at law school after 1st toll gate. On getting there, I stopped for the guy to alight and to my shock, the two at the back held me from the back, held onto my throat, and dragged me to the floor of the back seat. While the one in front took over the steering, at this point they started hitting my knees, shoulders, and elbow with hammer to weaken me. I became so weak with pain and remained calm till they drove to a distance and the driver suddenly said my fuel was finished.
Their commander asked me if I had a fuel keg in the boot and I said yes. So he asked the driver to park close to a fuel station and use the keg to get fuel but the other one said there was no need to park, that he should drive in since they have weakened me already. At this point, I prayed for God’s help because they pulled my black polo and used it to cover my face but when I noticed they were already at the fuel station, I started shouting but they zoomed off and someone drove after us, double-crossed us, but his car was hit off the road.
So, they continued and at this point, the torture on me became more severe. One of them held onto my nose with his teeth with blood pouring out while the other one tightened his hands to my throat. I didn’t even have the voice to beg but only struggled for life. They already had the music to the highest volume and whined up the glasses, while they were driving. I begged them to just go with the car, I had 45k in my wallet (the money I made on previous trips) and I had my piggy bank in the boot where I was saving for accommodation.
In that piggy bank, I already had a lot in it cos I was saving 2k daily and that’s about the second month. I begged them to go with it and let me go but they said they needed my heart and manhood for their ritual, all my begging fell on deaf ears. This happened till past midnight. Then, one of them loosened my belt, and the next thing I heard was “commander make we cut this thing and throway this guy, he’s causing lots of attention”. The commander asked him to hold on till they get to Ibadan. You can’t imagine the fear now.
They kept driving and I was getting weaker due to the torture but at a point, I saw the heads of people outside. I summoned the courage to shout and struggle, then the area guys there ran after us with weapons. One of them broke my back windscreen and jumped into the car while on motion.
In an attempt to escape, the driver entered a closed-end road and crashed the car against a parked trailer. That was how the mobs captured the two at the back and the one driving escaped but the rest of the area guys picked up anything they could lay hands on in my car.
They picked 3 of my phones, my swift 4G internet modem, my piggy bank with my accommodation savings. They literally turned my car upside down. This was happening till Maroko policemen came and picked the two criminals and we managed to get my car to the station. The case was now transferred to SARS Ikeja and the IPO in charge of the case said I have to pay for the investigation. He said they need to apprehend the other guy that ran away and am like, officer see all I’ve gone through with bandages on me.
I was scheduled for a chest X-ray with Throat and Nose examination but couldn’t go because I had no money left with me but he insisted I bring money to assist the police. I’ve been able to raise 20k, but I ignored my treatment. I am yet to get a phone (tweeting with my friend’s phone). The SARS man has collected the money as at yesterday 6th Sept, the man asked me to come today by 3pm that he’s going to court. I got there today and called him but he shouted at me and said I should come back on Friday and ended the call. I called again and he said he will swear for me if I call him again. You need to see the floor in my car, inside has turned to this green slippery dirty floor. I don’t know what else to do. My knees hurt so much and I can’t stand for long yet SARS wants to make money off of me.
When he was taking me to the O/C’s office yesterday, he asked me never to disclose to the O/C that he has collected money from me, else my case will be delayed and I may not get my car this year. I cooperated yet he is still acting so wicked. Kindly help tag the right authorities, I have lost a lot already. It’s my friend that has been responsible for me, NO HOPE FOR ACCOMMODATION AGAIN. I don’t know how long I will put up with my friend. Car is completely damaged. No other source of income. Please I need your help, I need my car released. I don’t wanna be helpless, please.
