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A Journey
Into
The Creeks

BIKK Media & Communications Network

Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

1
DISCLAIMER

This book is a work of fiction created by the author with

thoughts and notions generated through real time stories
emanating from the creeks of Niger Delta in Nigeria. Some
which are told by victims, others by ex-agitators,
kidnappers, the hostage negotiators, the police force, etc.

This story is a mix of facts and fiction.

Names, characters and scenes portrayed in this book do

not represent any real life events. However, some
locations are specifically used to uniquely identify the area
of focus. The author will not be responsible for any
misinterpretation, representation or otherwise in this book.

© 2019 Kenson Kenneth Ibialabo

All Rights Reserved.

This publication may not be reproduced, stored in a

retrieval system, or transmitted in whole or in part, in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior
written permission by the author.

First Publication: 2019, BIKK Media & Communications

Network, Port Harcourt.

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 Cover Photo Credit:
https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/niger-delta-militants-
attack-fulani-herdsmen-threaten-to-cripple-nigerias-
economy/2706wbg

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 To my mentor, Chizor Wisdom Dike,
whose experience as a victim of kidnapping
established the rudiments for this book.

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 CONTENTS

Regrets . . . . . . . . 6

Acknowledgement . . . . . . . 7

Prologue . . . . . . . . . 9

Chapter One: The Project Team . . . 15

Chapter Two: The Journey . . . . 27

Chapter Three: The Kidnap . . . . 37

Chapter Four: The Call . . . . . 47

Chapter Five: The Accidental Hostage Negotiator 60

Chapter Six: The Drop . . . . . 75

Chapter Seven: The Meeting . . . . 90

Chapter Eight: Journey to Peni-Peni . . 109

Chapter Nine: Freedom . . . . 116

Chapter Ten: The Reunion . . . . . 120

Chapter Eleven: An End to Terror . . . 132

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 REGRETS

In the light of truth and fairness, this could be seen as

an unsuitable presentation of a region, especially one I
am bound to by blood and origin.

The desire to write this book is one I couldn’t suppress

no matter how hard I tried. The ideas and concepts keep
getting at me and pushing me into “penning” them.

To those who may feel uncomfortable as a result of the

content of this book, let me apologize beforehand.

To those who believe they share similar traits with the

characters and names portrayed herein, be of good cheer,
no matter how strong the resemblance seem, I am not
writing about you.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I thank all the sources that made this book a success

(knowingly or unknowingly; directly and indirectly). I
acknowledge and appreciate authors whose articles and
journals aided me in having an in-depth understanding of
the issue at hand.

I thank the print, electronic and new media houses across

the country and their news reporters for feeding our minds
with undiluted reportage of kidnap events and other
related crisis. Thanks to all the columnists for their
detailed analyses.

To the good people of Idama community (chiefs and

youths), especially my friends, Comrade Aprepikiya Tom-
Amah and the Idama Community Secretary, Hon. Akobo
Gogo-Abite. The numerous calls I made to you and your
willingness to furnish me with information whenever I
requested was of immense help to me.

I am sure you didn’t know what I was up to yet you aided

me. Thank you.

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To my boss and mentor, Mr. Chizor Wisdom Dike who
seemed to be bestowed with an uncommon wisdom – my
years of service and working relationship with you have
exposed me to many academic and social skills (scripting,
journalism, research methodology, public relations, report
writing, etc), and have molded me into becoming what I
am today.

I will not fail to thank my lovely wife and members of my

family for their prayers, moral support and
encouragement.

Kenson Kenneth Ibialabo

8
 PROLOGUE

N
iger Delta is made up of nine coastal Nigerian
states. They are: Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo,
Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Abia and Ondo.
The nine states comprises of all six States from
the South-South Geopolitical Zone, one State (Ondo)
from South-West Geopolitical Zone and two States
(Abia & Imo) from South-East Geopolitical Zone.

The Niger Delta is a densely populated region popularly

known as the Oil Rivers as a major producer of Palm Oil
in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries under
the British Protectorate.

Niger Delta is a petroleum-rich region whose resources

contribute more economic revenues to the country than
all other regions combined.

Rivers State alone enjoys a vast reserve of crude oil and

natural gas, with two major oil refineries, two major
seaports, airports, three gas plants and various
industrial estates spread across the land. More than 60%
of the country’s output of crude oil is produced in Rivers
state.

Niger Delta records a population of over 35 million people

of more than 40 ethnic groups including the Bini, Efik,
Esa, Ibibio, Igbo, Anang, Yoruba, Oron, Ijaw, Ikwerre,
Ogba, Abua, Odual, Itsekiri, Isoko, Urhobo, Ukwuani,
Kalabari, Okrika, Ogoni, Obolo, etc and speaking about
250 dialects.

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The Niger Delta region that contributes so much to the
nation’s economy is widely known for its gross under-
development, poverty and pollution.

There is massive pollution of the environment, wetlands,

farmlands, waterways and the creeks resulting in the
loss of livelihoods and extreme poverty.

This pollution is as a result of exploration and

production activities by oil and gas companies mining
the natural resources of the region. Regrettably, the Niger
Delta people do not have control over these resources.
They hardly have any stake in the petroleum economy
apart from the fraudulent 13% derivation deal handed
down to them by the government.

The Kaiama Declaration of December 1998 by the Ijaw

Youth Council (IYC) bothers on concerns over the loss of
control of their homeland and lives to the oil companies.
In a letter to the companies, the IYC called for oil
companies to suspend operations and withdraw from
Ijaw territory.

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was

established in 2000 with the sole mandate of developing
the petroleum-rich Niger-Delta region of southern
Nigeria. The NDDC was created largely as a response to
the demands of the population of the Niger Delta, a
populous area inhabited by a diversity of minority ethnic
groups.

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During the 1990s these ethnic groups, most notably the
Ijaw and the Ogoni established organizations to confront
the Nigerian government and multinational oil companies
such as Shell. The minorities of the Niger Delta have
continued to agitate and articulate demands for greater
autonomy and control of the area's petroleum resources.

One of such organizations is the Movement for the

Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) which later
became one of the most visible armed groups based in
Nigeria's Niger Delta region.

MEND is a coalition of different agitating militia groups

partly responsible for disrupting oil-production and
kidnappings in the Niger Delta. It emerged between late
2005 and early 2006, targeting the oil infrastructure in
the area, and abducting and holding oil workers for
ransom.

They are said to be fighting for local control of oil

resources in the region. However, it was also accused of
being engaged in criminal activities, committing acts of
extortion and stealing oil (bunkering) for its own benefit.

This allegation at numerous times had been refuted by

some acclaimed spokespersons of the group. Prominent
among them is the name, Jomo Gbomo whose real
identity is still a mystery till date.

It can however be deduced that criminals, cultists and

other perpetrators of violence in the region saw and took
advantage of the opportunity in the agitation and method

11
of the militia groups and criminally introduced
kidnapping as the new money making venture into the
region.

Victims were no longer oil company workers and

expatriates as is the case of MEND. Notable individuals,
traditional rulers, traders, businessmen and women,
students, children, the elderly and even clergy men were
not spared.

In Omoku (Rivers State), old women returning from

farms were being kidnapped in exchange for food items
and phone recharge cards.

Some of these victims die in the custody of their

abductors. Some were buried in shallow graves while
others were dumped on specific locations after ransom
had been collected from unsuspecting members of the
victim’s families.

Some of the victims were deliberately killed for ritual

purposes. The cultists or kidnappers dismember their
body parts and use them to fortify themselves in order to
withstand military forces and evade arrest.

Life became very unbearable as many persons fled the

communities. Others refused to go about their farming
for fear of being kidnapped. Famine, hunger and extreme
poverty ravaged the region as a result of the steady
increase in the activities of these evil kidnappers.

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Some victims are kidnapped, released after ransom
payment and later re-kidnapped by another group for
more ransom.

This has been the norm till date. In fact, kidnapping is

the raging menace marauding the Niger Delta region in
present times and the Nigeria society at large.

This forms the basis for my story.

In the coastal areas, kidnap victims are being ferried

across seas. A certain Clergyman was kidnap from his
Church Parish at Aggrey Road, in the heart of Port
Harcourt, Rivers State. After the necessary hostage
negotiations, he was released but found himself in a
Creek along Mbiama, Bayelsa State.

The Creek is the fortress of the Niger Delta agitators. As

people of the coastal communities, they understand and
can swiftly navigate through the creeks without being
seen. In the dead of the night, without the need for a
flash light, they successfully carry their victims into the
creeks. Even the Nigerian Navy and her heavy fire power
are wary of engaging them deep in their territory.

This is so, because, apart from having mental and

physical knowledge of the creeks, most of them are
natural frogmen and combat divers that can remain
under water for a period of time without the need for
swimming gadgets.

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Such people are termed to be very deadly and can
silently creep unto their adversaries in the creek without
being detected. Such acts can be very dangerous even to
the bravest of the Nigerian forces.

This singular reason is why it was difficult for the

Nigerian government to engage them in an outright
combat as is the case of November 20, 1999 “Odi
Massacre” (Bayelsa State) and October 25, 2001 “Zaki
Biam Massacre” (Benue State).

The Nigerian government under the administration of the

late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua extended an olive
branch to the agitators in form of Presidential Amnesty.
It was necessary because the battle was far from being
won by the Nigerian forces and oil installations are blown
up daily causing the multi-nationals and the Federal
Government huge losses in monetary terms.

The Niger Delta agitators embraced the offer and

submitted themselves for the Presidential Amnesty
Programme which is on till date. But kidnapping has
refused to stop. Rather, the spate of kidnapping has
enmeshed the entire region.

This is so, because it has moved away from the fingers of

the ex-agitators into the hands of criminally-minded
individuals whose only known trade is enjoying the
luxury of life at the expense of other people’s life and
property.

Now to the real issue…

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 CHAPTER ONE
THE PROJECT TEAM

A
s is obtainable in every organization, upon the
finalization of a contract agreement, the
organization sets up a Project Team and
accordingly mobilizes to site.

In like manner, we were commissioned for a working visit

to Idama for a Stakeholders Engagement and Feedback
Project. The project was scheduled to last for four days. It
was a straight-forward procedure: mobilize to site, deliver
project goals and decommission. No arrangement was
made for security presence because it was not needed.
Idama is known to be one of the most peaceful
communities in the region. And the community chiefs
have assured us of a hitch-free engagement during the
period.

Idama is a coastal community in the heart of the

Kalabari region, Rivers State. Like any other oil and gas
producing community, Idama plays host to several
indigenous and multi-national oil companies in the OML-
55 (Oil Mining Lease) such as Chevron Corporation,
Belema-Oil Producing Company, Newcross E & P Ltd,
etc. one of whom we were working for as a Consultancy
Firm.

My name is Mr. Joel Oruwari; I come from one of the

coastal communities of Niger Delta. I work with a
Consultancy Firm as the Manager, ICT Projects &
Programmes. We are a medium scale firm but deeply
15
connected with several multinational companies. Our job
is basically to act as the middlemen between the
companies and their host communities.

We relate the objectives and intents of the companies to

the communities; get their reactions and feedback.
Report same to the company and advise them on the way
forward.

This job sounds quite cool until you have encountered a

difficult host community that is easily agitated. They
protest for lack of scholarship, lack of employment quota,
lack of empowerment programmes, lack of allowances for
their chiefs and community leaders, lack of community
projects, etc.

They expect the company to give them money, water,

light, roads, hospitals, schools, bridges, etc. Some chiefs
and traditional rulers even demand for befitting palaces
to be built for them as a Corporate Social Responsibility
Project. There is a particular paramount ruler in one of
these communities that sees Christmas Hampers as a
right which must come to him every December 25.

Virtually, their welfare is dependent on the company and

the company must not fail in providing all of their needs,
including the ones they didn’t remember to ask. Such
communities hardly give audience to middlemen. They
want to engage the companies directly and anything
short of that amounts to aggressive agitations.

16
Their youths often protest; such protests become wild
and lead to blocking of the company gates, lock-out,
shutting down of production activities, blowing up of
facilities, forceful eviction of workers from the field,
assault, etc.

Anyway, the Idama community people are nothing of

such character. They are adjudged to be law-abiding and
enjoy a harmonious relationship with the companies.

They encourage peaceful resolution of issues and open

communication channels for negotiation when crises
arise.

So, when the news broke that we have succeeded in

securing the contract to engage the community for a 4-
Day Stakeholders Engagement and Feedback Prgramme,
we all greeted it with much delight.

An assessment of the community shows difficulties,

limitations and conflicts within the community which
wedge the actual awareness of development goals and
anticipated results. And so there was need for a tactical
and systematic engagement of the leaders and members
of the community to chart a strategic direction that will
guarantee sustainable peace and development in the
community.

This programme if realized would have succeeded in

building the aptitude of community members and leaders
to comprehend the deep-rooted concerns and actions
needed to accomplish justifiable growth in the

17
communities. And fortify the internal capacity of the
members and community leaders to assiduously resolve
disputes and conflicts affecting community development.

It was an idea unanimously agreed upon and welcomed

by both parties i.e. the community and the company.

The project was initially scheduled for a take-off much

earlier than it did. Several factors contributed to it being
awarded and recalled twice before the final approval.
Some of these factors include the devastating flood that
ravaged many communities across the region. Other
factors were basically internal politics and pressure from
some quarters on the need to increase the number of
participants for the project in order to accommodate
more community stakeholders.

On the long last, the project phase kick-started and we

commenced the initial processes.

First, the date of the project was communicated to the

company and the community leaders. Secondly, letters of
invitation was distributed to participants nominated by
management of the company and the community leaders.
Then Resource Persons and facilitators were contracted
that will make presentations on salient issues bothering
on stakeholders relationship management, project and
programmes implementation strategy and conflict
resolution.

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The content of the project was rich and would have been
of immense benefit to both parties if it was followed
through to the end.

Days to the commencement of the project, the team had

already carried out internal strategy meetings: discussed
project life cycle and deliverables; outlined project scope;
achieved shared understanding of the project process;
carried out desktop research and literature reviews;
outlined project review gates; set-up entry and exit
strategies and defined project delivery mechanisms.

As I said earlier, it was a straight-forward procedure:

mobilize to site, deliver project goals and decommission.

But this was not so as the outcome was entirely different

from the proposed result. While we were preparing; while
the company was getting set; while the community
members were warming up. Workers of iniquity were also
on their gear waiting and trusting to strike at the
slightest appearance of opportunity.

So what set out to be a hitch-free stakeholders’

engagement project, became a strategic business venture
for kidnappers.

I can recall vividly the first case of kidnap I ever

witnessed was the case of a neighbor’s friend.

Well, I actually didn’t witness the event but had a good

knowledge of the aftermath.

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Several months before Idama’s event, my neighbor had
returned home that evening in his lady friend’s vehicle, a
Lexus 330, soaked in blood with particles of human flesh
seen on the broken window frame. When asked what
transpired, he narrated how the lady would have been a
victim of kidnapping if not for the timely intervention of
policemen they encountered along the way.

From his account, the lady left his business place earlier
that day and was on her way to pick her kids from school
when she was ambushed by the kidnappers. They had
blocked one half of the road forcing her to slow down in
trying to maneuver to the other side. Unknown to her,
while she was carefully avoiding the barricade, they
emerged from their hideout and waylaid her.

After successfully abducting her, they hijacked her

vehicle as well. She was kept in the back seat of the car
while they sat next to her, pretending to be her driver
and relations. But luck ran out of the kidnappers while
fate smiled on the lady when they were waved down by
the police force on security patrol. Sensing something
suspicious, the police team asked them to disembark
from the vehicle for interrogation and search. At this
point, they tried to zoom off but were met with serious
resistance.

The police opened fire on the vehicle and took out the
driver first, making the vehicle to crash into a tree. The
others came out and tried to escape into a nearby bush
but were gunned down simultaneously.

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That was judgment day for the kidnappers and a day of
mercy for the victim. If they had succeeded in moving her
across town and into the forest, the story would have
been entirely different.

I remember my uncle who was once kidnapped from his

favorite hang-out in downtown Port Harcourt and spent
over a week in the kidnapper’s den.

After paying the necessary ransom and secured his

release, everybody became a suspect. At a time he
accused one of his little cousins who was like a son to
him of masterminding his abduction.

In truth, the boy was looking all thuggish and seemed

like an average bad boy on the street, but a lot of us
disbelieved his connection with the kidnappers. We were
certain my uncle was acting out of anxiety and
trepidation. He would have accused even his mother if
she was alive.

Honestly, the psychological trauma that arises from the

aftermath of a kidnap situation is quite disturbing. Some
victims go into long term depression. Others seek
medical help and psychotherapy. For those who lived
through it, a bent stick will always have the markings of
a trap for them.

My uncle secured the services of the police force and was

spending huge sums of money for his personal safety
while he moved his entire family out of the country.

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To be a victim of kidnapping is one terrible story to tell;
but not being able to make it out alive in order to tell the
story is worse.

Back to our main story…

Idama community does not pride in 5 or 4-star hotels.

Not even a 3-star, but there are quite some comfortable
lodges that can accommodate the project team for the
four-day period. The logistics officer had booked our
rooms ahead, provided our means of transportation in
and around the community and also set up tour guides
for us during our leisure time.

In the course of the project, we were to meet community

leaders for validation sessions on the reality of projects
and programmes carried out by the Community Affairs
Department, the Sustainable Development Department
and also the Corporate Social Responsibility Department.

At one time, the Community Affairs Advisor to the

company who is a Briton had been accused of diverting
funds meant for community projects and awarding jobs
meant for local and indigenous contractors to his friends.

Part of our job scope includes filing of field reports on

projects awarded by the company and abandoned by
contractors. We are to profile such projects and the
contracting firms otherwise known as project vendors.

Such vendor if indicted by the Contract Department is

removed from the system and their contract terminated.

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The company’s contracting policy ensures not more than
50% mobilization payment is made on construction and
other capital intensive projects. At the end of the first
milestones, inspectors are sent from the company to
scrutinize the level of the project and make their reports
in real terms. If the level does not quantify the amount of
mobilization released, it hinders the approval of the
second milestone.

Irrespective of this policy, contractors, mostly indigenous

contractors tend to abandon projects without even
mobilizing to site after receiving the first milestone
payment. What causes this in most cases is when most
community projects are been awarded to community
leaders and chiefs who do not possess the required
competency and skills in delivering such projects.

Our project team of six officers comprises of my boss, Mr.

Elemele Dickson, who is the Project Coordinator and
Team Leader; the Project Manager, Mr. Agio Mark; the
Company Secretary, Mrs. Uwa Okwara; the Community
Relations Manager, Mr. Olusola Rotimi; the HSE Officer,
Mr. Joseph Mckenzie and my humble self.

Other staff were to aid us with the necessary support

from the office while the project is ongoing. One of such
support staff whose input is quite important is the
Accounts Officer Mr. Aniefiok Isong.

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Before we left, Mr. Isong had run to and from the bank
countless times. Disbursing funds to the hotel, the
caterers, the transport company, Resource Persons, etc.

I, too, had taken a quick dash to the computer village

located at Ogbunuabali in Port Harcourt to purchase the
necessary ICT resources that will be required for the
project.

As part of the programme, the Resource Persons were to

make their presentations designed in PowerPoint and
through the aid of a projector and Screen.

I had purchased a Slide Presentation Pointer, some

printing papers and toner to produce copies of the
presentations, extra USB Flash Drive, Flip Chart Board
and papers, marking pen, writing pad and other
stationaries.

We conducted our last Readiness Assessment Test and

made calls to the company and the community to
confirm the date.

All was now set for us to move into the community.

It was, indeed, going to be a magnificent outing, I said to

myself, as I ponder on what could be the outcome of the
project.

As I lay my head to rest that night, all I could think of

was the sweet breeze of Sombreiro River that will mollify

24
my nerves when we ferry across the riverine communities
of Kalabari.

I ponder on the need for these coastal communities to

feel the presence of the State and Federal Governments. I
imagine a city like Venice developing out of the
communities. These are possibilities and I can only
wonder why such initiatives are not taken.

The coastal communities are blessed with not only oil

and gas but silica-sand and great beaches. Moving
through the creeks, you can hear songs of sweet
melodies coming from tailorbirds, egrets and the
waterhens.

In most countries, communities like these are regarded

as tourist destinations and so they are vastly developed
to draw tourism and generate revenue for the states.

In Nigeria, they are: the neglected, the deserted and the

forsaken. They are the goose that lays the golden eggs for
the wealth of the nation yet treated with reckless
abandon.

As I ponder myself to sleep, I realized that the foundation

of Nigeria’s nagging poverty issue is not wealth but
wealth distribution.

The nation is blessed with enormous resources. Virtually

all the natural and mineral resources known to mankind
can be found in Nigeria, although this is debatable.
However, over-dependence on crude and theft of the

25
nation’s commonwealth has resulted into poverty
ravaging more than 70 percent of the country’s
population.

I encouraged myself with the fact that, if other

communities can emulate the people of Idama who are
development-focused, gradually the grassroots can
envision a peaceful, economically self-reliant and
environmentally safe communities.

With these thoughts, my impatience to see the morning

sun grew as I looked forward to a wonderful experience
in Idama.

26
 CHAPTER TWO
THE JOURNEY

T
he alarm tone from my phone had sung repeatedly
before I reluctantly crept out of my bed into the
bathroom. The lovely morning sun brightens my
apartment as it journeys towards the East.

Yes! Today was going to bring with it, a beautiful

experience but I wondered why I was no longer as keenly
interested in the outcomes as I did the previous night.

I have spent the night thinking about the many

expectations of today and now I regret losing so much
sleep over what I do not have any control. I only wished I
could crawl back under the comfort of my beddings and
sleep for the rest of the day.

I know this is not possible by the way; duty calls and I

must respond accordingly. So I washed up quickly,
packed my bags for a four day’s journey and stepped into
the morning.

We were to converge at the office by 8.00am for briefing

before the project team shall embark on the much
prepared journey. By 7.20am, I was already seated in my
office waiting for the arrival of others.

I had overtime conditioned myself to leaving the house

early. This always enabled me to beat the prevailing
satanic traffic jam putting other road users daily under

27
undue stress between the hours of 7.00am and 9.00am
around the city.

My route especially has a very unpredictable traffic

situation. One moment there is a free flow, the next,
there is a heavy gridlock. In order to be free from such
pressure and avoid unnecessary query from
Management, I have to let go of long sleeping hours.

To keep myself busy while waiting for others, I decided to

revisit my ICT Checklist and ensure nothing is been left
out. I called out each item on the list loudly as I try to
identify their physical position:
 Laptop – check
 Printer – check
 Flash Drive – check
 Slide Pointer – check
 Internet Modem – check
 Staplers – check
 Typing sheet – check
 Flip Chart Board – check
 Projector – check
 Photocopy machine – check
 Extension cables – check

I was deeply carried away with this routine, I didn’t

notice when the Project Manager, Mr. Agio Mark walked
into my office. He had stood for some minutes before
speaking. We exchanged pleasantries and he commended
my ability to give attention to details. According to him,
he was initially taken aback hearing my voice from the

28
front desk office and wondered why I was talking to
myself.

After chatting for a few minutes, he left for his office to

carry out a similar task.

By 8.00am, we were all seated silently in the conference

room waiting for the arrival of the Project Coordinator
who has been on phone in his office ever since he
stepped into the building.

When he finally came, he announced that there has been

a development. He used the good news and bad news
technique in giving us the information.

“Gentlemen and lady, we have good news and bad news.

What will you want to hear first? He asked.”

We all echoed “the bad news!”

Okay then he said. “The bad news is, our travel

arrangement has been adjusted. We are to leave for
Idama late in the afternoon. This is a bit disturbing
considering the dangers that crawl in the creeks. The
good news, however, is that, our principal company has
contracted the services of a security team to escort us
through the creeks.”

Earlier that year, the governor of the state had donated

support materials such as patrol vehicles and gun-boats
to the combined military forces known as the Joint-Task-
Force (JTF), which include the Police, Army, Navy, etc.

29
This gesture he had hinted was to aid the JTF to
effectively combat the raging menace of kidnapping and
other related crimes across the state.

Some of us took the second news excitedly. Having the

presence of a military gun-boat as escort is an added
flavor to the entire adventure, or so we had believed. I
personally can’t wait to see the much-talked about state-
of-the-art paraphernalia installed on the boat.

The boss had instructed that we go back to our offices

and carry out some outstanding administrative functions
in order to reduce the workload for those that will be left
behind after our journey. So I went back to my checklist
to round-off my verification process.

At 1.00pm, my intercom rang; it was the Secretary

asking me to round-up whatever I was doing within the
next few minutes. We are to set out by 1.30pm. Our boat
transport was scheduled for 3.00pm so we have a little
over two hours to move from the city of Port Harcourt to
Abonnema Town where we shall continue the rest of the
journey by sea.

By 1.30.00pm, we were fully packed and seated in the

14-Seater Toyota Hiace bus belonging to our company. In
his usual religious manner, the Project Manager said a
few journey mercies prayer and the driver brought the
engine to life.

30
As we journeyed through the city of Port Harcourt, I took
time to observe the development fast embracing the city
through conscious efforts from the state government.

The Mgbuoba-NTA-Ozuoba-Choba route had been one

hell of a dilapidated road in the 90s and early 20s. By
2010, the road had been given a new face lift with
drainage systems and working street lights. If for
anything, members of those communities can’t be
thankful enough to the governor who heard their cries
and came to their rescue.

Good roads they say brings other forms of development

and revenue-generating ventures. Within this short
period, several banks, hotels, restaurants, hospitals,
supermarkets, fashion houses, schools and of course
churches have found their way to the communities.

As we drove, I pondered why the same amount of effort

has not been channeled towards developing the coastal
communities by the government. All successive
administrations since 1999, when democracy returned to
the country, had focused their attention mostly on the
capital city of Port Harcourt and her neighboring
communities in Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre local
government areas.

What is the yardstick in establishing the Ministry of

Urban Development and leaving out that of rural
development?

31
The government is mandated with the responsibility of
developing the communities. But as big as Rivers State
both in wealth, resources and population, it is appalling
that it is been described as a “One-City-State” when
there are adequate resources to develop other regions of
the state into a full blown city. Towns like Omoku,
Ahoada, Degema and Bori should be competing favorably
with Port Harcourt as is practiced in other African and
Western countries.

One of the major problems we face in the state is the

upland/riverine dichotomy. This segmentation has done
more harm to us than good. Politicians over the years
have used this contrast to create enmity between ethnic
groups and political associations. Traditional institutions
are not left out of the debacle.

There was once a king from the region of the former

governor who called out to him in a press statement
written and published in various news media to focus his
attention on developing his region. Prompting that, when
other regions take over the seat of power, they will not
remember his deeds.

This indeed, has been the bedrock of one-sided

development carried out by various governmental
administrations. The “Do yours and let me do mine
syndrome” which has beclouded good reasoning, making
leaders to focus attention on mostly their ethnic groups
while abandoning the collective interest of the state.

32
We got to Abonnema at about 2.40pm. We encountered a
slow traffic at Location Junction along NTA Road and
another at Uniport Junction. After the Choba Police
checkpoint, it was a free movement until Abonnema.

Within Ogbakiri Junction in Emuoha Local Government

Area and our last bus stop in Abonnema Park, I observed
and counted about nine military checkpoints. I am not
surprised though as those axis had been on the news for
all the bad reasons.

It is on record that, cultists and known kidnappers

operate that route frequently. Several times, commercial
buses moving from Port Harcourt to Buguma and
Abonnema are been hijacked and taken to unknown
destinations. Sometimes, the vehicles are burnt beyond
recognition and the passengers taken hostage. Drivers
who try to escape their snare are shot dead on the spot.

There is the story of a Sienna Bus that was hijacked

when almost approaching the Tema Junction, till date,
no contact was made and the whereabouts of the nine
victims (including the driver) are still unknown. Several
suggestions had it that, they might have been murdered
and buried deep in the forest.

These incidents and several other factors constitute the

presence of the military and the many checkpoints on
that route. However, it is alleged that kidnappings, arm
robbery and other crimes are still perpetrated from time
to time along the Ogbakiri-Buguma/Abonnema route.

33
The security escort had already stationed at the Wharf
popularly known as Idama Waterside by the time we got
there. Our transportation was also on ground waiting.
We also met the Community Affairs and Development
Manager (CADM) of our sponsor who was readily on
ground to ensure a smooth sail to Idama.

He shook hands with my boss with a broad smile as he

announced “Welcome to Abonnema”!

Abonnema used to be a thriving major Nigerian seaport

during the colonial era, and was host to many European
companies such as the Royal Niger Company which later
became United African Company (UAC).

Abonnema is prominent for producing famous people like

the former Miss World, Agbani Daerego, the oil magnate,
Chief O. B. Lulu-Briggs, former Minister of Culture and
Tourism, Alabo T. O. Graham-Douglas, former Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Odein Ajumogobia, former Minister of
Sports, Dr. T. W. Danagogo, former Vice-Chancellor,
University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Nimi Briggs, former
Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Chief R.
R. Briggs, etc. The list goes on and on.

Again, I pondered what could have been the reason why

the prestigious Abonnema seaport was not sustained and
transformed into a modern seaport? I wondered why a
town with so much rich history is just a shadow of its
own. A town that parades hundreds of personalities who
are outstanding in their fields, like the late Nabo
Graham-Douglas, an internationally recognized lawyer

34
who didn’t lose any case throughout his professional
career.

I looked at the riverside and I envisioned what could have

been a tourist attraction but laying waste with filth and
malodorous articles flowing on the river bank. I saw a
shore which should be a centre of enthrallment been
overshadowed by pollution caused by crude exploration
and waste.

Abonnema is an Island, surrounded by large rivers, but I

cannot say for sure if the inhabitants are fishermen
though they were supposed to be. However, oil and gas
activities and its resultant environmental impact have
deprived them of that livelihood.

Crude oil pollution which is inevitable in an oil

exploration causes devastating effect on the environment;
it travels long and spreads over the surface in a
thin layer that stops oxygen getting to the plants and
animals that live in the water.

Oil pollution harms animals, prevents photosynthesis in

plants, disrupts the food chain, and takes a long time to
recover. River birds and fishes are particularly
vulnerable, both through damage to the waterproofing of
their plumage and through eating the oil as they groom.
In the ground and soil, oil pollution kills the organisms
which are necessary to maintain the environmental
balance.

35
Sadly, effect of crude oil activities does not only impact
on wildlife; oil contamination can make water unsuitable
for irrigation and damage how water treatment plants
work.

Oil spills can make drinking water sources unfit for use
and the treatment is very expensive. If oil is spilt within a
living environment, the oil vapours could enter buildings
making it unsafe for habitation. This could mean the
building becomes useless until restoration work is
completed, or in life-threatening circumstances the
building may need to be demolished.

This is my observation of Abonnema as I took one last

look at the buildings standing uncluttered along the river
lines. The structures of these old buildings attest to the
fact that civilization began very early in this town.
Because of their strategic coastal location, they are said
to have direct dealings in businesses with the Portuguese
and later with the Britons who journeyed into the region
through the Atlantic Ocean.

As we voyaged out to sea, the beauty of the town seemed

improved from a distance. Bounty history resides here I
said to myself. Maybe, someday, someone will find the
courage to introduce Abonnema to the world.

36
 CHAPTER THREE
THE KIDNAP

T
he sea was fairly calm as we ferry across the
Sombreiro River towards the blustery Atlantic
Ocean. The communities of Idama, Kula,
Sangama, Abisse, Elem Kalabari and other coastal
settlements enjoy springs of the Atlantic Ocean and are
usually referred to as the Oceania Communities.

The journey from Idama Waterside in Abonnema to

Idama community was quite exciting as we are being
entertained by the sea life. Fishes in their large
quantities are seen giving themselves up to the beauty of
the sea as they leap above the sea level, whirl and
plummet back into the water.

The Community Relations Manager, Mr. Olusola Rotimi

expressed amazement to the wonderful beauty of nature
before him. He was especially dumfounded by a large-
sized dolphin that came very close to our boat. He was
shocked at first, became frightened, and then loosened
himself into appreciating the aquatic environment.

Mr. Rotimi is from the South-West, precisely Abeokuta in

Ogun State, whose only major rivers are the Ogun River
and the Yewa River but well-known for her enormous
rocky settlements. Little wonder, he was enmeshed in the
awe of the sea as we make our way through.

From the emergence of thick mangroves seen ahead of

us, it indicates we were getting close to our destination.
37
I have been lost in thought; I didn’t grasp how long we
have journeyed. But the knowledge that we were fast
approaching human settlements gave some form of
succor.

The sea had been surprisingly free of pirates who

operates the area regularly, intercepting travellers,
carting away their goods and valuables and taking some
hostage.

I have this strong feeling that, they might have seeing our
security escort from a distance and decided to keep out
of sight. This is good news to us considering how unsafe
the Oceania had been these periods because of the
activities of sea pirates.

They suddenly come from the creeks, shoot at

unsuspecting travellers, apprehend them and the boat
and take their catch back into the creeks. This can be
done within the shortest amount of time.

The terror they exact on members of the Oceania

communities who travel to the city for businesses and
other issues were one that necessitated the donation of
some gun-boats by the Local Government Chairman to
the naval command overseeing the area to enable them
combat these sea pirates.

Prominent members of the community make

arrangement for extra security escort whenever the need
to visit home arises. For those who can’t afford such

38
luxury, they tend to travel during mid-day when naval
patrol is within the area.

As Idama jetty came to sight, the security team killed

their engine to allow the boat float gently on the sea
surface while giving us time to dock and disembark. One
of the chiefs nominated by the community to work
closely with us as a Liaison Officer was already at the
jetty waiting to convey us to our hotel.

He beckoned on some community youths to help us with

our equipment. A white Toyota Hilux was stationed just
by the end of the jetty. The youths took turns in carrying
bags and equipment from the boat to the truck.

I looked out to the river and noticed the patrol team had
gone, probably back to Abonnema. The journey was safe,
quick and uninterrupted all thanks to them. If all
sections of the military are this diligent in service, terror
would know no peace in our region.

There’s the story of a military officer who was working

shadowy with a kidnap sect. He was their informant,
feeding them all the necessary information on the
strategies of the military and how best to tackle them. It
was told he usually pre-informs the kidnap syndicate
when there is plan to raid their camp. This had made it
very difficult for the military to apprehend them, until he
was exposed.

Sources had it that, after a successful kidnap venture

and the ransom paid. The kidnappers were trying to

39
reach him in order to send his share of the bounty.
Unfortunately, his phone was in his colleague’s custody
when the text message came in. The colleague, moved by
instinct, read the message and quickly informed their
commander of his discovery and they traced him to the
den of the kidnappers. I am sure he would have been
court-martialed but no one knows the end of the story as
he was taken out of the area.

I went in search of my boss who was having a

conversation with the chief. I saw the frustration on his
face and I wondered what could have caused it. As I got
closer I heard my boss say “we would have prevailed on
the security team to stay a little longer if we had known
this development, at least until we are certain everything
was under control.”

I inquired what could be the issue and was informed that

the community youth chairman was kidnapped in the
early hours of that morning by unknown gunmen. This
development had placed the entire community in panic.
The community leaders were no longer certain of our
safety and suggest the programme be put on hold until
the tension wades off.

When asked why the development was not

communicated earlier, the chief informed us that our
sponsors had insisted that we continue as this project
had taken longer than expected.

At this point, other members of our team, sensing

something wrong, walked towards us. I can feel the

40
uneasiness in the voice of the Company Secretary, Mrs.
Uwa Okwara as she insists we take the next available
boat back to Abonnema.

The chief was lamenting how this issue to alien to the

community. “We are a people of peace, our youths prefer
to work and earn a decent living than get themselves
involved in crime.” The chief hinted that the kidnappers
might have come from neighboring communities. An eye
witness account indicates that the kidnappers came
through the sea on a speed boat and didn’t spend
another second in the community the moment they
abducted the youth chairman.

Idama is a peaceful community and the leaders have

worked round the clock to ensure it sustains that status.
Workers from the oil and gas companies operating the
region have been kidnapped countless times but none of
such incidents happened on the soil of Idama.

It was a known fact that several kidnap syndicates had

laid up camps in the surrounding creeks. Some are
deeply involved in local refining of the crude oil they
possessed through the vandalization of oil pipelines and
hijacking of vessels. This process is called bunkering
while the refining is known in our local slang as kpofire.

They operate very swiftly and are hardly detected by

security operatives when they make their move. Their
information network is very strong and widespread. They
have successfully infiltrated all segments of security
operations: police, army, navy, civil defense, etc.

41
Some of them have connections with high ranking
officials of the government and very influential politicians
in the society. Peradventure they are arrested, all they
need is one phone call and they have regained their
freedom and back to doing what they know how to do
best.

We were still trying to absorb the sad news of the youth

chairman’s kidnap when the first sound of gun was
heard.

Within seconds the entire jetty had been deserted.

Many of the youths ran into the community and we

followed suit. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me
without knowing which direction I was going or where
the sound of the gun was coming from. We ran leaving
the vehicle, our equipment and even our bags and
personal effects.

Few meters away from the jetty, the gun sound

intensified in quick successions. I found the community
town hall and quickly made my way there. I was not
alone. The chief, who was discussing with my boss, was
right behind me. I wondered how such a man advanced
in age could run as fast as he did.

The gun shots continued, though it seemed the shooters

were not making effort in coming into the community.
Where I hid, I could hear sounds of footsteps dashing
back and forth. The community was in chaos as people

42
were running helter-skelter, looking for safer places to
hide.

For over fifteen minutes, the gun sounds persisted; then,

gradually it started fading and suddenly stopped. I
waited for another ten minutes till I heard voices outside
talking about a kidnap attempt. I assumed it was
members of the community, so I stepped out.

The chief also came out and we both made our way back
to the jetty.

Getting there, other members of the community were

already gathered trying to shoulder what had happened.
I saw our Project Manager, Mr. Agio and inquired of the
rest of our team members. He was still in shock and
couldn’t bring himself to responding.

Obviously, everyone scampered for safety during the

shoot-out so I implored the chief to organize some youths
who can help us in search for other of our colleagues to
ascertain their whereabouts.

We found Mrs. Uwa Okwara and Mr. Joseph Mckenzie

but our Community Relations Manager, Mr. Olusola
Rotimi and our boss Mr. Elemele Dickson could not be
located.

The searched carried on into the dead of the night but

still no progress was recorded as it concerns their
whereabouts.

43
The chief pleaded with us to retire to our hotel rooms
assuring us that, first thing in the morning, the search
party will resume.

That was the slowest night I had experienced in my life. I

couldn’t sleep, couldn’t bring my mind to any possible
outcomes. I kept looking out the window and at my wrist
watch. It seems the time was trying my patience or
making mockery of me. The silence in the room made my
heartbeat sound like the drumbeat of a masquerade
dance.

So many questions kept crossing my mind: Who were the

shooters? Where did they come from? What do they
want? What was their mission? Where are my
colleagues? Where did they run to?

I silently prayed for the safety of my boss and colleague.

What a tragedy it will be if they missed their way and got
lost in the mangroves.

I imagined the creeping objects in swampy areas called

reptiles. Same is obtainable in the mangrove. Snakes
crawl freely in the mangrove and would not hesitate to
vent their venomous rage on intruders. I know Mr.
Olusola cannot swim. I prayed he didn’t find himself in a
situation where he had to swim. That will be terrible as
drowning is inevitable. I quickly discarded such horrible
thoughts from my mind and tried to force myself to sleep.
Tomorrow, we shall definitely get an answer.

44
I was still struggling to sleep when a bang came on my
door. I jolted to the bedside for safety before I heard Mr.
Agio’s voice from behind the door. I quickly opened and
found him standing thoughtlessly. What is the matter? I
inquired. He asked to be let in and I reluctantly gave way
for him as he sluggishly strolled into my room.

He sat on the only available seat in the room and was

silent for a few minutes before speaking.

“I have tried to run all possible scenarios in my head as

to what could have happened to our boss and Mr. Olu”
he said.

“All indications show that they might have been

kidnapped by the shooters.”

“As terrible as this may seem, that is the only possibility

owing to the fact that this is a small community and the
youths who know the terrain had searched everywhere.”

Mr. Agio was still talking, but my mind had travelled far
from the room and into the kingdom of thought. Here is
Mr. Agio telling me the same thing I have been coming to
terms with. The possibility of their kidnap is becoming
factual as my mind re-echoed my earlier questions: Who
were the shooters? Where did they come from? What do
they want? What was their mission?

What was their mission? To kidnap someone of course!

45
Some restless informant might have told them about a
team from an oil and gas company coming to Idama for a
project. Everything to them as usual is business, even at
the expense of their community’s development.

Their kidnap is likelihood as posited by Mr. Agio, but I

have to be positive in my leanings. I told Mr. Agio not to
jump to conclusion. We agreed that first thing in the
morning, while the community youths mobilized
themselves to resume the search, we shall go to the jetty
to see if we can find any clue to corroborate the kidnap
theory before breaking it to other team members.

Mr. Agio left and I went back to my thoughts. A dreadful

scene of my colleagues been dragged blindfolded through
the creeks played through my mind and I felt a sharp
pain at the back of my head. Migraines were setting in as
the fear of an inevitable outcome closed in on me.

Another set of questions started popping into my mind:

What will I tell my boss’s wife? Mr. Olusola is single, but
what about his family? How do I communicate this
situation back to those in the city?

I prayed once again that Mr. Agio and my thoughts were

mistaken. There is also a possibility that they might have
lost their way or still in hiding out of fear. By tomorrow,
we shall come to terms with reality and whatever the
result maybe, we will surely find a clear solution.

46
 CHAPTER FOUR
THE CALL

M
orning didn’t come early but eventually the
cloud started brightening up. I went into the
bathroom, washed my face and mouth. The
chief with the help of some youths had brought in our
equipment and personal effects the previous night. That
of my boss and Mr. Olusola was kept in my room, at
least until they come out of their hiding place.

I briskly walked towards Mr. Agio’s room but met him on

the hallway. He was already coming to me. We greeted in
low tones, didn’t say anything else, but quickly moved
out of the guest house towards the community jetty.

On our way, we met some fishermen returning from

night catch. I wondered how they still managed to go
fishing at night with the creeks taken over by pirates and
kidnappers. This obviously is because fishing is their
only source of livelihood. That they should stay back for
fear of been victims of hostage-taking amounts to
household dearth and inescapable hunger. I likened the
gallant actions of the fishermen to that of the three
valiant lepers mentioned in the Holy Book who chose
death by the arrows of the enemy over starvation.

In this concept, it is usually a two way decision: if we

stay back, we are definitely going to die of hunger but if
we move out, there is a 50% possibility that we may
succeed. In the case of those lepers, their courage
brought abundant supply of food to their people.
47
I silently commended the fishermen for their bravery in
the midst of terror. I imagined what my boss and
colleague would be experiencing right then wherever they
may be.

Mr. Elemele, my boss, had always been a brave man.

Going through many thorns of life and coming out more
determined. Apart from his intellectual prowess and
uncommon wisdom, his ability to be calm under stern
pressure and stress is another reason I am devoted to his
life’s principles.

I feel very obligated to ensure the safety of my boss and

colleague is ascertained. This is one task that should
never fail.

As we approached the jetty, I noticed more fishermen on

the riverbank tending their nets. I wondered how they
managed to make catches and where they go for fishing
considering how polluted the river had become as a
result of oil and gas exploration activities.

I have always believed that communities playing host to

multinationals often depend solely on their company-
community relations. The case of Idama had proved me
wrong. Apart from fishing, the people also engage in
diverse skills and services such as trading, tailoring,
carpentry, electrical works, etc. The learned among them
work in various establishments from private institutions
to governmental agencies while others own and manage
business ventures.

48
Many indigenes of Idama are self-reliant and
hardworking. Communities like this should be made a
point of reference when advocating for self-realization
and purpose-driven development for the rural areas.

We got to the jetty and moved straight to the very point

we were standing before the terror was unleashed. I
hoped for clues to indicate the direction any of them had
taken. I asked Mr. Agio to seek for any unusual objects
on the floor.

While we were at it, the chief and some youths came to

the jetty. He was surprised seeing us there that early. We
spoke briefly and he informed us of their plans to scout
the nearest mangroves to ensure our colleagues didn’t
miss their way while running for safety. We shook hands
and he assured us of their best efforts. He told us the
community leaders were quite disturbed with the
development and had convened an emergency meeting to
decide on the next step.

I and Mr. Agio resumed our search for clues, not minding
the fishermen and other bystanders who were looking
sympathetically at us.

Few minutes later, Mr. Agio, standing at the brink of the

jetty, called out to me. I quickly moved towards him as I
saw him lift an object with a stick from the bottom of the
jetty. On getting close, I realized it was one foot of shoe
belonging to my boss.

How did his shoe get here?

49
He was standing very far from here when the shooting
started. He couldn’t have run towards the jetty when
every other person was running into the community?

Mr. Agio didn’t say a word as I was thinking out loud.

Then it dawned on me; the shooters had come from the

creek, the jetty obviously was where they anchored. What
this means is, the shooters were kidnappers and had
taken my boss and colleague hostage.

I turned to speak but saw that Mr. Agio was focused on

the other side of the river. Before I could tell him my
thoughts, he asked, “why take the both of them? What do
they perhaps want with them?”

As these questions slowly came from Mr. Agio, I realized

we were having similar thoughts.

We walked back to the guest house absent-mindedly.

My mind was running several options on what had

transpired. These kidnappers were reliably informed of a
project team sent by an oil & gas company. If the
company had sent us as middlemen then, the company
will be liable for our wellbeing. Their aim I presumed was
to negotiate terms of release with the company before
they can free my colleagues.

We have a good clue on what might have happened to

our colleagues but that will only come up after the

50
search party had returned. Who knows, we may receive
some good news after all.

We got to the guest house and found Mrs. Uwa sitting at

the reception. She came to us and inquired of any
development. I told her what the chief had informed us,
but left out our discovery of the shoe. There was no need
causing her more pain as she was already nervous and
frightened after experiencing the event of the previous
day.

We sat in silence, each of us in our own thought.

I recalled a case that occurred in Omoku. The father of a

certain chief was kidnapped and ransom demanded. The
ransom was paid accordingly, but unknown to the family
members, the victim had already died in the custody of
his abductors. After receiving the ransom, the
kidnappers told the chief on phone to go to a particular
location and retrieve his father. When he got there, he
found his father lying on an open field, lifeless. This
necessitated the founding of a local vigilante group that
assisted the military in combating kidnapping in the area
successfully.

Few hours later, the search party returned. The chief

informed us that they have rummaged every nook and
cranny of the community and the mangroves. If our
colleagues were within the axis, they would have been
found.

51
He told us that the community leaders had met and
taken a decision which they intend to communicate to
us. To this end we are expected to go to the town hall
where they are all seated and waiting for us. As he spoke,
he led the way.

The town hall was built with modern facilities. I ran into
this place the previous day but was too tensed to take
note of the beauty. I wondered if the community had
mobilized themselves into building such an edifice or it
was a CSR project from one of the oil and gas companies.
The structure was not too big but the architecture was a
beauty to behold.

As we walked into the hall, I noticed several members of

the community were seated and whispering to one
another. The chief ushered to vacant seats at the front
and waited for the community leaders to speak.

The community secretary was appointed to relay the

information and he did that without hesitation. “They
had informed the Community Affairs and Development
Manager who was the man in charge of the project. From
all indication, it was a case of kidnap. The kidnappers
had come from neighboring communities. There is need to
inform the police and other security agencies. One of us
will have to stay back to work closely with the Community
Affairs and Development Manager to facilitate their
release.”

The community secretary was communicating their

discussion to us point by point. Whereas my mind had

52
journeyed back to the previous day; I had told my boss
earlier that afternoon before leaving the office in Port
Harcourt about my intention to proceed on study leave.
He had greeted this news with excitement, advising me to
be committed and ensure I pursue my goals to the very
end. He told me how glad he would be seen me achieve
great heights in my academic pursuit.

“What if he didn’t make it out alive? What if it was an

assassination attempt not kidnap for ransom? Will I be
able to go through my plans without his support?”

These questions were going through my mind when the

chief signaled me to stand and speak on behalf of the
team.

I declined and beckon on Mr. Agio to do the speaking.

Mr. Agio thanked them for their efforts and expressed his
regret that the unfortunate incidence had made the
community to miss-out on a project they had planned for
several months. He told them that the remaining team
members will meet and decided on what to do.

The moment the meeting ended, I called the other team

members together and told them of my decision. The
boss is like a father to me. I have, therefore, decided to
stay back and help in facilitating his freedom and that of
Mr. Olusola.

Mr. Agio Mark, Mrs. Uwa Okwara; and the HSE Officer,
Mr. Joseph Mckenzie were to return to Port Harcourt and

53
inform our colleagues in the office of the situation at
hand.

Three hours later, the security patrol team arrived, along

with the Company’s Community Affairs and Development
Manager. I assisted my team mates in moving the
equipment back to the boat and bid them farewell. I then
walked up to the CADM and asked him why he didn’t
inform us of the kidnap of the youth chairman or
recommended a postponement of the project?

His response was “company policy.”

I left him at the jetty and went back to my guest room

trying to think through the situation and how best to
handle it.

I took my phone and dialed my boss’s wife’s number. Her

daughter picked it and I heard her crying in the
background. Bad news travels very fast. I asked her to
give her mother the phone. After some moment; Mrs.
Elemele Dickson finally brought herself to speaking with
me. I sympathized with her. Told her efforts are been
made to secure their release. I also told her it was mere
money-making action that will not lead to anything
serious and that our sponsors are ready to make the
payments.

Even I didn’t believe myself.

My conversation with Mrs. Dickson lasted for about 12

minutes before I was able to calm her down. When she

54
finally hung up, I called the office. Aniefiok, our Accounts
Officer took the call and I narrated the issue at hand to
him.

I refused to be detailed on the matter as I don’t have an

idea on the direction it will take. However, I assured him
that once Mr. Agio and the others get there, they will
furnish him with the necessary details.

Next I called Mr. Olusola’s only sister, Ajoke.

From the time I broke the news till I hung up, she was in
a miserable tears.

Who wouldn’t cry?

A kidnap case spanning almost twenty four hours

without contact from the kidnappers?

No one knows the state of our colleagues, we only

assume their abduction was strictly business and the
phone lines will soon get busy.

I called home. Spoke with my wife and the boys.

Ijeoma, my wife, was terrified for my safety, but I assured

her I was in safe hands. I needed to be on ground to
ensure my boss and colleague is returned unscathed.

To make her calm, I promised to keep regular

communication and update her on the situation.

55
It wasn’t easy getting Ijeoma’s permission to continue the
task. Women can be very protective of their own. Just
like the mother hen.

I remembered an encounter my brother had with a hen

when we were much younger. Tekena, my elder brother
was trying to torment the hen and her chicks when he
accidentally fell into the gutter. The experience he had
that day was terrible as the mother hen sensing danger
repeatedly smacked his forehead with her beak. I think
she gave him a lasting scar as a reminder never to toy
with a mother hen.

After I finished the necessary calls, I went back to the

chief who was in a conversation with the Community
Affairs and Development Manager. I inquired if there
were any possibilities to ascertain which of the groups
was responsible for the kidnap. The CADM told me our
sponsors were making efforts to reach out to as many
group leaders as possible in order to swiftly facilitate the
release of my boss and colleague.

Whenever the CADM spoke, the urge to soccer-punch

him in the face grew. I wondered what sort of company
policy could jeopardize the lives of people with reckless
abandon.

That a kidnap occurred hours before the commencement

of a project and there is the tendency of a reoccurrence
yet they insist on executing the project because certain
mobilizations had been done and the company was going
to lose money if the project wasn’t completed?

56
Even at the expense of the supposed project team?

I wondered why preventive mechanisms were not put in

place before now. Why contract the security team only to
escort us to the community without making them stay
back during the programme?

Perhaps, if their gun-boat was still floating ashore, they

would have vehemently resisted the kidnapper’s
invasion.

How can a company of such pedigree not be proactive?

Saving cost shouldn’t be an issue when human life is
involved. I wondered how they will feel now spending
much more to secure the release of my colleagues as
compared to what they would have spent in setting up an
extra security measure.

We are now at the waiting period. No one knows which

group abducted my colleagues. No one knows when the
abductors will make contact. The waiting period was
hellish. Time was at its slowest pace and nothing seems
to be working as it used to be.

The chief asked who could be reached if the kidnappers

were to make contact. That itself was a big issue. My
boss will probably give them his wife’s number. That
won’t be good as they will have direct access to her and
mount enormous pressure on her in agreeing to their
terms of demand.

57
I told him since our sponsors are the ones trying to
secure their release; they will probably open
communication channels through them.

We were still discussing the issue when my phone rang. I

looked at the caller’s identity and it displayed my boss’s
name.

Shocked to my bones, I quickly showed the phone to the

Chief and the CADM.

They signaled me to answer and place the call on speaker

mode which I did. The voice from the tail end was jagged,
manly and commanding. The message was short and
straight to the point: “Your friends are here with us; keep
your phone line open; we will contact you soon, and don’t
call the police.”

Before I could make any response, the line went dead.

The CADM suggested we redial the number which I did

but couldn’t connect as the phone had been switched off.

We were all confused.

For a moment nobody uttered any word.

Everybody was trying to replay what had happened. After

several minutes of silence, the Chief asked what was our
next line of action?

58
The CADM said he was going to call management and
inform them that contact had been made.

The dilemma we had was the fact that we can’t really be

sure if “our friends” were safe.

The caller didn’t give us the opportunity to start any

conversation. Perhaps, we would have demanded to
speak with them and ascertain their wellbeing.

I pondered on the issue and sudden twist of events. I

wondered why I was the one contacted and not Mrs.
Dickson.

The CADM had told us earlier that management was

making effort to reach people. So why not contact the
CADM or any member of management? Why me?

Was it my boss that gave them my number? Many

unanswered questions running on my mind.

What was I going to do?

The moment others find out that I was contacted, my

phone will endlessly beep. Everyone will want to have
firsthand information from me, whereas I had been
instructed to keep the line open for future contact.

59
 CHAPTER FIVE
THE ACCIDENTAL HOSTAGE NEGOTIATOR

I
t’s a good thing that the call came through as at when
it did. At least we are now certain it’s a kidnap-for-
ransom case and not an assassination attempt which
was another consideration to the story. Our hopes have
been renewed and we are looking forward to facilitating
their release as soon as possible.

The waiting game resumed as we were unsure of when

the next contact will be made. The CADM has updated
management on the recent development and has been
given the go-ahead to open negotiations once the next
contact was made.

I called the office to inform them of the presumed safety

of our colleagues; I called Mrs. Dickson to comfort her
with the update on her husband; I called Ajoke and also
told her that contact has been made and her brother
could be released anytime soon. I then called my wife to
update her just as I have promised.

We went to the Chief’s residence where we can sit and

brainstorm. The Chief had been very helpful from the
moment we anchored at the jetty. He should be in his
mid-60s but quite energetic. I silently commended him
for his good heart and concern while I wished I had
soccer-punched the CADM. I see him as the root cause of
this problem even though he seems to be receiving direct
orders from management. I imagined been in his shoes,
knowing the danger of what going ahead with the project
60
entails yet embarking on it because company policy and
an insensitive management thought it wise to be so.

Chief’s wife welcomed us and ushered us to the visitor’s

room. It was not an exquisitely furnished room, but it
looked well cleaned and smelled nice. The colour mix of
the curtains, the chairs and the wall paint were quite
remarkable for an elderly couple. They seemed to be in
touch with modern trends and were not left behind in
adapting.

We had Eba and fresh Tilapia soup garnished with

cocoyam, oyster and periwinkle. The delicacy I came to
know as Ïku-fulor meaning Cocoyam Soup.

The meal refreshed our system and energized us for what

is ahead. For almost fifty minutes, we forgot all about our
situation and relished the delicious welcome to Idama
meal. After which we started strategizing every possible
outcomes.

At about 4.45pm, my phone rang again.

The caller identity displayed Elemele Dickson. Everyone

was on their toes as I picked and placed the call on
speaker mode. That crooked voice came online again
speaking very fast and cockily. “You are required to
muscle up the sum of N30 million as ransom for your
friends. N15 million for each of them. Do this without
daring us or prepare to receive their body-parts in bits and
pieces.”

61
Before he hung up, I cut in and demanded we speak to
them to confirm they are safe and alive. He felt very
maddened by my audacity, but I insisted we will not
comply if we don’t know their state. After much pressure,
he finally agreed to let us speak with only Mr. Olusola.

When Olusola’s voice came online, it sounded very

terrified.

We assured him that we were going to leave no stones

unturned in securing their release. When asked about
my boss, Olusola said my boss had been down with
fever. His body metabolism couldn’t adjust to the
coldness of the creeks and had made his temperature to
be very high. He pleaded that we act fast before my
boss’s health issue deteriorates.

This news didn’t go down well with us.

We asked the caller to give us some time as the said

amount is huge and the possibility of raising it is very
slim.

He was not pleased.

He threatened to carry out his words if we fail.

With that the line disconnected and the number went

offline once again.

The CADM quickly called management and informed

them of the latest development. From the expression on

62
his face, obviously the discussion with management did
not yield the needed result.

He said management can only offer N3 million. According

to them, Mr. Elemele and Mr. Olusola are not employees
of their company but consultants who are been paid for
the proposed programme as a matter of fact.

They, therefore, advised us to negotiate further or sort for

funds elsewhere and make the payments. Management
according to the CADM considers their effort
magnanimous and should be appreciated.

As heartbreaking as the news was, there was nothing we

could do about it. In truth, we are not employees of the
company; it was left for us then to shoulder the
responsibility of securing their release. I couldn’t imagine
how callous these people can be. After putting the lives of
my boss and colleague at risk for their selfish gains, they
now realized we are not employees of the company?

I made several calls to all necessary channels updating

them of the situation. Mr. Agio Mark was particularly
furious. How could the kidnappers demand for N30
million he probed.

That is absurd.

From where will such huge amount of money come?

63
I called Mrs. Dickson, my boss’s wife and informed her of
our dilemma. She cried even more as she insists such
money cannot be gotten so easily.

“Who wants to part ways with N30 million in this harsh

economy,” she lamented.

I told her to stay positive and that we will definitely

negotiate the demand, but there is need for us to source
for funds and keep on standby just in case we were able
to scale through with our negotiations.

I asked Mr. Aniefiok, our Accounts Officer how much can

be made available through the company’s fund. He said
N2 million at most.

“That is a good place to start,” I said to myself.

“When next that crooked voice comes online, we will have

to draw the lines.”

By 7.00pm my phone rang.

The intervals were becoming familiar. The crooked voice

asked if we were ready to make the trade. I told him we
are ready but we do not have such amount of money. I
explained that even if given a whole month, we will not
be able to raise such amount of money. He was furious
and insisted I shouldn’t dare him otherwise my friends
will suffer severe consequences.

64
I told him we can’t build a house on a beach-sand and
expect it not to be washed out. N30 million is not
available. Even if we were to loan money from the bank
which will take up to 14 working days, it won’t be
possible because the signature of our boss who was in
their custody will be required to facilitate the process.

He was silent for some time and then asked how much
we can come up with?

I told him N2 million.

He cursed my entire generation and hung up.

The Chief was surprised.

He asked why I mentioned N2 million instead of the total

N5 million we are sure of receiving from management
and Mr. Aniefiok?

I asked him to be calm that in a negotiation table, you do

not turn out all your cards at once.

He was skeptical and prayed my actions didn’t backfire. I

was also skeptical, but believed the crooked voice will
definitely call again.

At 9.40pm the phone rang.

I didn’t take the call.

It rang again and again.

65
After the fourth ring, I picked the call and heard a very
furious voice from the other end.

He demanded why I took so much time to respond and I

told him I was running around trying to meet the
fishermen in the community for loans.

This sarcasm irritated him even more. He reminded me

of his instruction to always keep my phone open. I told
him the line was open, but I was not close to the phone.

He grew furious when he realized I was been sardonic.

I sensed he was becoming impatient and didn’t like the

fact that we were still dilly-dallying about raising the
money.

He said their group has decided to help us by reducing

the demand to N20 million and are giving us until
9.00am the following day to comply.

With that he disconnected and the number went offline

as usual.

As I left the Chief’s residence for the guest house that

night I thought of all the possible ways we can negotiate
to the lowest minimum. I reminded myself that the
ultimate aim is to successfully secure the release of my
boss and colleague. I promised to allow their safety be
paramount in the negotiation process. However, I cannot
build something on nothing. The kidnappers will have to

66
accept what we can offer otherwise we will see ourselves
in deeper mess.

As I strolled through the town square, I noticed the

people of Idama have not really felt the impact of playing
host to multinational companies. Apart from the town
hall which was supposedly constructed by Chevron
Corporation and an ongoing water project by Belema-oil,
there is nothing tangible to show that the people are
blessed with mineral resources that contribute to the
nation’s economy.

Even governmental presence is not strong.

I saw a model primary school which I believed was built

by the previous government in the state. However, this
model school was a project that was felt by many
communities across the state. Idama has never been
singled-out by any government whether local, state or the
federal for any impactful project.

The internal road was constructed by the community.

The electricity supply was provided by the community.

Virtually all their development projects are self-
sponsored through funds they realized from GMOUs
entered by the community and the companies.

I wondered why a community with so much desire to live

and grow in peace and drive their development
aspirations are not given all the necessary support they
can muster. I then realized the reason for our sponsor’s

67
insistence on this Stakeholders Engagement programme
in spite of the apparent security challenges.

I foresaw conflicts in the future and I perceived these

companies sitting on a keg of gunpowder.

Company/community crisis do not emanate from

nothing.

Sometimes it is caused by the company’s disregard for

the plight of the community and sudden realization by
members of the community to seek appropriate redress.

Such actions in most cases lead to deep conflicts and

strained relationships which are embedded with series of
protests, breakdown in communications, violence,
vandalisation, lockdown, loss of valuables, etc.

The Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMOU)

entered into by the company and their host communities
were meant to address issues that arise from these
conflicts.

The GMOU is the proposed vehicle that should drive

community development but in most cases, the
implementation process is flawed and ineffective.

Back to the guest house I wondered what actions the

kidnappers will take by the next day when they make
contact and found us still unable to meet their demands.

68
These criminals are very ruthless and heartless.
Demanding N20 million from people who were trying to
implement a programme with a budget that is less than
half of that money. Where do they expect one to get such
amount?

I was getting irritated by everything: by the fact that not

one but two persons were been held hostage; by the fact
that I have accidentally become the hostage negotiator;
by the fact that I am not sure if I possess what it takes to
succeed in the negotiation; by the fact that our sponsors
are been less concerned about the life of my boss and
colleague; by the fact that my guest room is completely
dark and I have to use my phone as torchlight whereas I
needed to save the battery life in order to constantly keep
my phone line open.

Right now, what I crave is the warm embrace of my dear

wife and the innocent laughter of my boys.

I picked the phone to call Ijeoma and speak with the boys
before retiring for the night.

Her phone was switched off.

How could she?

Now I have to sleep feeling like one carrying the burden

of the universe on my shoulder.

The knock on my door woke me abruptly.

69
I wondered who was banging at the door by such ungodly
hour.

I strolled with sleepy eyes to the door and found the

CADM and Chief standing.

“What could be the problem this time around I queried?”

“Why are you still sleeping and why were you not taking
your calls?” They inquired.

I became very confused.

I looked outside and realized it was morning already.

How come?

I have only slept for a few minutes.

I went back inside and checked my wrist watch. It read

8.20am. I must have slept really deep, drained by events
of the previous day.

I opened my phone and saw 11 missed calls from the

Chief, the CADM, Mr. Aniefiok our Accounts Officer,
Ajoke, Mr. Olusola’s sister and my wife. Thank God no
call from Mr. Crooked Voice yet.

I told them to give me few minutes as I made a dash into

the bathroom.

70
By 9.00am, we were seated at the Chief’s house waiting
for the kidnapper’s call.

The CADM had informed us earlier that after putting

more pressure on management, they have decided to
increase their support by additional N2 million but that
is how far they can go. Anything beyond that, we are
totally on our own.

We all agreed that I will offer them N5 million when they

call to show our seriousness in the matter.

At the appointed time, the call came through.

I picked and placed it on speaker mode. “Are you ready

to cooperate with our demand or we should start feeding
the flesh of your friends to the fishes?” the crooked voice
asked.

We have been ready and trying so hard to cooperate with

your demand from day one but we are unable to meet up
as N20 million is not small money to source for within 24
hours, I responded in a firm voice.

“However,” I continued, “we have managed to come up

with N4 million which was a very huge task for us.

Please accept it and let our friends go.”

"N10 million is the last demand from you. If by 12.00noon,

it is not ready, don’t even bother picking the call when it
comes because we will not hear any plea. For your

71
information, the older man needs serious medical
attention, the earlier you get him out of here the better for
everyone,” the thundered.

With that he disconnected the call and I didn’t bother to

redial the number because it will definitely be offline.

The Chief was angry with me.

“I thought we agreed N5 million,” the Chief inquired.

“Why reduce it to N4 million?

Are you deliberately endangering the lives of your

colleagues?”

The CADM was on the same page with the Chief and I
can relate with their frustration. However, if I lay all my
cards on the table and the offer is still rejected, what
then do I have to bargain further?

I know the technique I am applying is very risky but

considering their demand and what we have, one must
be diligent not to shoot ourselves on the foot.

When next he calls, hopefully he will reduce his demand

and I will increase my offer.

Somewhere along the line, we will definitely strike a

bargain. But no matter the outcome, it’s lose-lose for us
and win-win for them. We have everything to lose and
they’ve got nothing to lose.

72
Chief’s wife in her usual hospitality brought breakfast for
us. White rice and fresh fish stew prepared with palm oil
and fresh pepper. I wished our mission was leisure-
based; I would have really loved to stay longer. The fish
she said is called Songu in their native tongue while the
stew is referred to as Songu odu.

By 11.00am, the call came through unexpectedly.

I realized Mr. Crooked Voice and his team of scalawags

are growing very impatient. I needed to up my game
before they inflict any form of injury on my boss and
colleague.

“Are you ready for business or you want to continue been

funny as usual?” the crooked voice asked.

“I have been ready and there is an update on our offer.

We have made more efforts and added up the money. We
now have N5 million and we are ready to deliver it to any
place of your choice. Just consider the fact that we have
really made efforts and bear with us,” I responded.

The crooked voice was silence for some seconds and then
he said: “Make it N7 million.”

“N5 million is all we can offer.

We have exhausted all options and milked ourselves dry

to come up with this amount. Even a thousand naira
cannot be added to this money as it stands.”

73
“What we need now is your understanding and clemency.
Accept this money and please release our people,” I
implored further.

“I will call you back in ten minutes,” he said and hung up.

“Why are you been unnecessarily rigid,” the Chief asked?

“He demanded N7 million which is exactly what you

have, why not accede his demand and bring this energy-
draining issue to an end so that everyone can have a sigh
of relief?”

I didn’t respond to Chief’s query. Obviously he was also

growing very impatient.

I signaled them to calm their nerves as we anticipate the

result of the next call coming up in ten minutes.

Five minutes later the phone rang, I picked and placed it

on speaker mode: “Ensure the N5 million is in N1,000
notes. Bag them in two packs and wait. By 5.00pm you
will receive directions on where to make the drop. You are
requested to personally come with the money. If we sense
any hint of police tailing, you and your friends will not live
to tell the story.”

With that he hung up.

74
 CHAPTER SIX
THE DROP

T
he first few minutes after the last call was met with
complete silence. Both the CADM and Chief
couldn’t believe I had managed to pull through. My
instincts were right though. I had read the anxiety in the
crooked voice and took advantage of his impatience.

What beats my imagination, however, is the deeper mess

I have found myself. The crooked voice had demanded
that I personally make the drop. That means I will be
making a journey into the creeks and right into the hands
of cold-blooded kidnappers.

“What if they take the money, bushwhack me and turn

me into another of their victims?” Why didn’t he choose
the CADM or the Chief?

This issue is becoming deadlier than I had anticipated.

I prayed for guidance from God.

The CADM was already on call trying to facilitate the

provision of the money. He seemed nervous, pacing to
and fro the room. His voice was low but from his
reaction, something seems not to be okay.

It’s almost 12.00noon and the kidnappers had given us

until 5.00pm. That means five hours to get the money
approved by management, withdrawn from the bank and
conveyed from Port Harcourt to Idama community.
75
The thought is very frightening.

“Can we pull this through?”

I prayed we shouldn’t fail when we have almost

succeeded.

While the CADM continued on his numerous calls, I also

called the office to inform them of the little breakthrough
we have recorded so far. I told Mr. Aniefiok that the
proposed N2 million from the company’s account was no
longer necessary. It was a bit of relief for him as salaries
were to be paid from that money.

I called Mrs. Dickson and gave her the “good news.”

I assured her that by the evening, her husband would

regain his freedom. She wasn’t too excited at the
moment. She needed to hold her husband in her arms
before she can let go of her tears which had not ceased
since the incidence occurred.

I called my wife and we spoke at length.

I inquired why her phone was switched off the previous

night. She explained that she had a flat battery and
needed to switch off the phone to enable it charge fully. I
told her of the progress we have made, but consciously
left out the fact that I was mandated by the kidnappers
to personally make the drop. That would kill her most
definitely.

76
Some things are left only for the brave-hearted. A woman
may seem strong in many things, but when it comes to
the well-being of her loved ones, her weakness comes to
play.

My wife was pleased with the update and inquired if we

were to return home after their release of which I
answered in the affirmative. “May God help me through
with this,” I prayed silently.

I realized I have been doing a lot of silent prayers of late.

Then I called Ajoke.

She was already on her way from Abeokuta to Port

Harcourt.

I told her not to be alarmed that great progress had been

made. Hopefully by the evening her brother, Olusola
would be a freeman once again. The news cheered her
spirit and she thanked me for all my efforts.

I went back to the CADM who was still on the phone and
looking very pissed. I inquired what could be the
problem, and he told me management was been adamant
about the urgency of the matter.

They intend to allow due process precede which means

24 hours after approval before the money can be
released. I inquired who the go-to-man in management is

77
and he said the Deputy General Manager, Community
Affairs Department.

Luckily, the DGM had been a wonderful friend of my

boss, it’s time I’d talked to him personally so I called our
office and asked them to go through our sponsors’
contact directory and get me the DGM’s contact number.

Within minutes, Mrs. Uwa, our Secretary had sent it to

my phone.

I dialed the number several times and finally got him.

I spoke to him passionately and informed him of the real

situation at hand. If by 5.00pm, the drop wasn’t made,
we cannot anticipate the next line of actions these
kidnappers will take but we were sure it wasn’t going to
be chicken and chips.

He promised to get back to me in thirty minutes which

seemed like a long time. Every second spent is one less
second we have to make the drop. Time is of the essence
in this situation. The kidnappers have given us an open
window to rescue our people. We shouldn’t be the ones to
jeopardize such golden opportunity.

After about forty minutes, the CADM received a call from

the DGM and informed us that the payment has been
approved and the accounts team was heading to the
bank. I hoped they make it on time to Idama community
considering the asymmetrical nature of traffic systems in
Port Harcourt.

78
I called the Chief and asked him to contact the security
team to be on standby as there was need for them to
escort the money down to Idama.

This is not the time to leave anything to chance.

I ensured the CADM was in constant communication

with the team. He gave us regular reports on their
assignment: when the money was withdrawn; when the
team left Port Harcourt; when the team arrived Abonnema;
when the team left Idama waterside; when they arrived
Idama, etc.

At about 4.00pm, we were all set and waiting for the call.

While waiting, I realized the security escort was still

docked at the Idama jetty so I inquired what the issue
was. The accounts team told us they were given
directives from the District Police Officer in Abonnema to
shadow me when I journey into the creeks for the drop.
Their order was to identify the location of the kidnappers,
apprehend them and if necessary capture as many as
possible.

“This is bad news,” I said to myself.

We have neither informed the police nor planned to work

with them this whole saga. All we cared about right then
was the safety of our people. I told the CADM to call of
such plan, that it will put my boss and colleague’s life at
risk.

79
The crooked voice had warned me not to involve the
police. The only reason I requested for the security escort
was to ensure the money safely get to Idama and nothing
more. Why will the DPO give such directives without
communicating same to us? Did he bother to send his
men down here since the incident occurred? Why now
when we are on the verge of securing their release?

The CADM disclaimed awareness of the security plan.

Who then authorized the DPO and his team to meddle?

The accounts team informed us that the DGM had

instructed the money to be marked for identification
purposes and had contacted the police to ensure the
money is retrieved the moment we ascertain the safety of
my boss and colleague.

I got to know that the DGM had withdrawn his personal

funds to facilitate the release of our team members while
waiting for management’s due process to take shape.
This is awkward. Though his efforts are commendable
but trying to interfere with the exchange process because
his money is at stake was a risky step to take.

Its 4.45pm already, anytime from now, the call will come
through, I must do something to keep the security team
out of sight or sneak out without their notice.

I faked a call and pretended to be speaking to the

crooked voice. After a while, I went up to them and told
them the drop had been postponed to the next morning

80
and there was need for us to retire to our guest house.
With that I pretended to be leaving the Chief’s house, but
sneaked to the back and waited.

My plan worked out eventually.

They returned to their gun-boat and sped off.

I reemerged from my hiding place smiling at myself. I

know going into the creek without a security escort is
risky, but the lives of my boss and colleague depended
on it.

I must muster the needed courage to pull this through to

the very end.

When the Chief saw me emerge from the back, he was

shocked.

“What is happening,” he asked?

“I needed to get the security off my backs,” I explained.

“So the kidnappers didn’t call to cancel the drop,” he

asked?

“Yes, I faked it,” I said with a grin.

He wasn’t pleased. He believed I was enjoying the whole

episode without considering the danger inherent in it.

81
That is his palava not mine. I need to do what I need to
do for the safety of my boss and colleague.

The CADM came into the sitting room, saw me and was
shocked. This is getting usual. Next the accounts
personnel will see me and be shocked as well. I signaled
the CADM to be silent just as my phone rang.

“Are you ready for me or should I end the call right now?”
The crooked voice asked.

“We have been ready,” I responded.

“Who were those security men and why have they come?”
He queried.

“Not for you,” I replied.

“I needed them to bring the money safely to me. I don’t

want what belongs to you to fall into the hands of any
imbecile,” I said.

“Are you calling me an imbecile?” His voice grew louder.

I have already adjudged the person behind the crooked

voice to be a very impatient man and he has never failed
to present himself in such light at the slightest hint of
provocation.

“Can we get to the business of the day please,” I retorted.

82
“Besides, the security team has left and on their way
back to Abonnema as we speak,” I explained further.

There was some seconds of silence then he spoke: “Do

you have a boat on standby?”

“Yes,” I replied.

“Good!” he responded.

“Take any community member with you as a river guide;

ask the person to lead you to Innocent Kiri, a settlement
not too far from where you are. Once you get there, you
will receive further instructions.”

“Don’t try to be smart. You, the river guide and the

boatman are all we are expecting, once there is a fourth
figure on board or far behind you, we will take
appropriate safety measures. Understood?”

“Yes,” I replied.

“You are to get there in the next ten minutes otherwise

we will believe you have been compromised.”

With that he hung up.

“Ten minutes?”

“What’s the distance from here to Innocent Kiri,” I asked

the Chief.

83
He just shook his head and kept silent; probably still
irritated with the stunt I pulled off earlier on the security
team.

“Fine!”

“At least get me someone that can help us get there on

time,” I pleaded.

I have heard very little about that place Innocent Kiri: A

fishing hub that records many tales of king fishers who
had settled there in search of great catches.

From the explanation of the river guide, Innocent Kiri is

at the entrance point on the edge of the canal that leads
to Idama. Getting there shouldn’t take more than five
minutes’ drive from Idama jetty on speed boat.

I remembered sighting a small settlement on our way

coming, but didn’t have much view of the place. Seeing it
again reminds me of a community known as Isaka where
I once spent an extended holiday period visiting my
sister. Isaka is prominent for its past historical feats,
especially in sports drive but currently a weak shadow of
its own. Abandoned and forgotten by successive
administrations. The prestigious Sports Institute
renowned for the grooming and growing of young and
budding talents in various sporting endeavors is in a
state of comatose and in dire need of resuscitation.

84
Reaching Innocent Kiri didn’t take long as assured by the
river guide. We docked at the putrefied wooden jetty used
by the inhabitants.

This jetty causes serious safety risk for the villagers, I

wondered why it has not been renovated considering the
less cost it entails. The quietness observed at the jetty
indicates a village not frequently visited by her people or
tourists.

A little lad approached me with a written note. On it

reads:
Ask the river guide to take you across the sea, to a place known as Forty Five (45).
Remain at the riverbank when you get to Forty Five until further instructions come your
way.
PS: We are watching you!

I wondered what game this people were trying to play

with me. If I have no business been in Innocent Kiri, why
ask me to come down here? And what do they mean by
watching me? Am I trying to act funny? I am only
interested in the safety of my boss and colleague and
nothing more.

I showed the written note to the tour guide who I later

came to know as Mr. Sukubo. He read it and said he
knows the location of Forty Five, but it’s on the outskirt
of the Idama terrain. I told him no problem. We need to
get there as soon as possible.

Forty Five according to Sukubo is a settlement

predominantly known for oil bunkering activities. Local
85
refineries are littered all over the place with massive
water pollution emanating from there and affecting other
parts of the creek.

From a distance, civilian surveillance personnel

brandishing sophisticated ammunitions were seeing
patrolling the waterways. I wondered if the security team
from the combined military forces known as JTF had not
encountered these sects. I remembered been told one
time about the harmonious relationship between the oil
bunkers and some security officers. Was told homage in
cash and petroleum products are been collected in order
to allow the bunkers operate freely.

We sat quietly in the boat at Forty Five minding our

business. I concealed the money bags with a tarpaulin
meant for shade during the rains. There is no way I am
giving these arms-wielding individuals the idea that I am
seated with N5 million in raw cash. That will be very
suicidal for me and my seafarer team as well as my boss
and colleague.

We waited for about an hour and twenty minutes still no

sign or any further instruction. It was past 7.00pm and
the cloud was getting dark. Many lines of actions ran
through my mind. I cannot journey back in the dark and
I cannot spend a night in Forty Five with such huge
amount of cash under my watch. I don’t even trust the
boatman and the river guide. People do a lot of things for
money these days.

86
There was no network on my phone so no way to
communicate my situation to others back in Idama for
possible advice. I sat still, thinking of what to do when a
speed boat suddenly came approaching.

I looked up and saw guns pointed at me. I was gasping

for breath not aware of who these incoming forces were.
They are five in number, dressed in military camouflage
with red bandana tied around their foreheads. They
stopped halfway and ordered my driver to move the boat
out to the sea. I was terrified and dripping of sweat. The
cold breeze of the evening could not stop me from
sweating profusely.

As we got closer, one of them, I believed the leader asked

me my name.

“Jo, Mr. Joel Oruwari,” I said stutteringly.

“Do you have N5 million of 1000 naira notes carefully

arranged in two bags as instructed?” He asked.

“Yes,” I replied, pointing to the bags under the tarpaulin.

Finally, some sort of relief, these were the actual people I
came out to meet, not some hungry lions trying to devour
another man’s game.

This time, they drove towards us and asked me to move

over to their boat which I did without hesitating. Two of
them moved over to the other boat while three remained
with me. With that, they sailed out again, the boat

87
containing the money at the front, while we tailed
behind.

We went through deep and lonely creeks for about forty

minutes then came to a Y-path. The front boat slowed
down for us to catch up with them. As we did, the leader
gave a sign instruction to them and we parted in opposite
directions.

“Why are we taking a different route,” I asked?

“Big Fish wants to meet with you,” the squad leader

responded.

“Who is Big Fish?” I asked.

“The person you have been communicating with on

phone,” he responded again, this time impolitely.

I kept silent for some time, and then asked again: “If Big
Fish (or whoever) is on this side of the creek, why is the
money meant to go to him taking the other route?”

He looked at me sternly in a “shut your mouth” gesture

and looked away.

Big Fish wants to meet me, why? He should be more

interested in the money. Why is the money going
somewhere else? What will I use to secure the release of
my boss and colleague if the money gets missing? I hope
I know what I am doing right now?

88
“What if these goons were rebel factions of Mr. Big Fish’s
squad with enough information on the drop and had
decided to hook the loot for themselves?” God forbid!

On a second thought, I should have allowed the security

team to trail behind us as suggested by the DGM. Should
I regret my actions? I only acted for fear of what might
become of my boss and colleague if I had disobeyed the
warnings of the crooked voice or Big Fish as his boys call
him.

I prayed to God to be certain I am on the right track.

Whatever transpires here will play a major role in the

safety or otherwise of my boss and colleague and mine
too.

89
 CHAPTER SEVEN
THE MEETING

W
e drove for almost twenty minutes through
thick mangroves and tapered river paths. After
a while, we came to a wide river at which end
lies a settlement seen from a distance. I tried to inquire
the name of the settlement but something reminded me
that I was not on a leisure tour but a serious business
that involves the lives of good people.

We drove past the settlement and into another

constricted path not too long from the first settlement
and then we came to a sudden halt under a bamboo
shoot that shadows half of the narrow river. We are going
to journey the rest on foot, the leader informed me.

I looked at the mangrove, it doesn’t seem solid for a foot

walk and I wondered the depth of the muddy water and
what could be creeping underneath. This place is meant
for reptiles and mud-skippers, not humans I murmured
silently.

The leader brought out a dark-shaded scarf and asked

me to turn around.

Blindfold! Why?

The muddy water and all its inhabitants are not enough
threat to me; I had to walk on them blindfolded as well?

90
That is a no-no for me. I will not be able to survive the
temporary blindness.

I tried to reason with the leader, but he doesn’t seem to

care.

I am not a kidnapped victim been smuggled into their

camp yet I have to go through such hazardous journey?

I wondered what my boss and colleague had experienced

in the course of their kidnap.

This is one terrible tale too cumbersome to tell.

I reluctantly turned around and within seconds darkness

had beclouded my eyes. This won’t be good by all
measures.

Back home, I sleep with the lights on. I am not a man of

dark places. I don’t even like confined spaces.
Psychologists call it claustrophobia or whatever.

The darkness seemed to consume my soul and I was

already feeling lost in the spirit.

With the help of the leader, I was lugged from the boat to
land and shoved with the mouth of their gun signifying
me to start walking. I summoned ample courage and
took the first step, and the second, and the third and so
on.

91
At one point, the depth of the river seemed deeper as I
felt muddy waters up my knees. We could have walked
for just ten minutes but to me, it was an Israelites’ 40-
year journey of lamentations in the wilderness. My throat
was dry of thirst and my feet drenched in heavy mud. As
we proceed further, my legs become heavier from the load
of dirt my shoes had gathered.

I don’t think slaves suffered this much when ferried

across the continent by their cruel masters.

At some point the ground seemed solid and other times

muddy. We went through shallow rivers a few times and
my dirt barrow shoes were washed out again and again.

After a long walk in the darkness that took almost five

years out of my life-cycle. We came to a stop and I heard
voices whispering to one another. I knew we were no
longer alone. Probably, we have arrived at our
destination. What then is holding these ungodly
scavengers from removing the scarf and liberating me of
this strange darkness? I wondered.

An object that seemed like a stool was placed behind me

and I was asked to seat which I did thankfully. The long
walk in the swampy mangrove and damp waters had
strained my spinal cord and caused me severe pains on
the waist.

The seat was a welcomed development.

Next should be my sight, I hoped.

92
I sat blindfolded for about ten minutes without any sign
of attention. The silence was killing me, especially while
been in the dark with no idea of my whereabouts. I was
tempted to remove the blindfold since my arms were not
bound together.

Something reminded me that I may be in serious trouble

if I don’t sit still.

I am becoming very uncomfortable and seriously worried.

How did I come to terms with such precarious journey

into the creeks without much consideration for my life
and the feelings of my loved ones? Was I selfish? Did I do
this for the safety of my boss and colleague or I just
craved the urge to take an unholy adventure?

I was no longer certain.

What kind of adventure finds one in deepest parts of the

creeks blindfolded and left alone?

What if these goons had abandoned me here and gone

with the money? How do I find my way back to town?

What will be the fate of my boss and colleague?

After a while, I heard footsteps approaching. I hissed a

sigh of relief, finally someone was coming. Hope for the
good I wished.

93
A voice commanded that the blindfold be removed from
my eyes. Yes! That is one voice I recognized very well. The
crooked voice is here, finally!

The blindfold came off and standing in front of me is a

huge man. Not older than thirty years. Maybe a little
more, but definitely not up to thirty-five. His bearded face
was wide and mannish. He’s got the look of Hulk, the
Marvel Studios character, and his body too. Quite huge!

“Big Fish indeed!”

He was dressed in camouflage shorts and black t-shirt.

Unlike his subordinates that wore bandana on their
foreheads; he was wearing a red beret. I am certain his
boot was military. Jeez! How do they get these apparels?
Obviously, there’s some kind of working relationships
between the militants and the military, some military
officers per se.

“Greetings,” I said, stammering.

He looked me in the eyes for some time and got into

uncontrollable laughter.

After laughing for some time, he looked at me again and

said; “your voice betrays your appearance.”

I didn’t understand what he meant but I whispered “the

same with yours.”

He looked surprised and asked me “how?”

94
“Well, your voice is quite small for a macho man like
you,” I replied.

“Big Fish huh? I’d rather say Big Chimp.”

I regretted the second the words left my mouth. I looked

at him and saw him startled at my mention of his name.
He turned around, beckoned on the squad leader of the
team that put me through hell to step forward
immediately.

“How this Oga take know my name?” He asked in

colloquial English.

The squad leader went silent.

“I no dey ask you question? Abi your mouth don knock

engine? How this Oga take know say them dey call me
Big Fish for here?” He asked again becoming furious.

Impatience is a strong vice I have come to understand as

shown very visibly on Mr. Big Chimp.

“General, no vex, na mistake; as una two don talk for

phone before, I think say him don sabi your name
already.”

The squad leader was explaining with an unsteady voice.

Evidently, even his boys know he is short-tempered.

95
I wondered how they managed to put up with him and
had not carried out a mutiny already. Such a man
should not be allowed to be in leadership positions be it
good or negative organisations.

Mr. Macho or should I say General Big Fish looked very

offended, but to my surprise he calmly walked back to
me without taking any action. I don’t see this Hulk of a
man to be forgiving. He will definitely discipline the
leader for mentioning his name to me. What nonsense!
Big Fish is not even his real name, why the fuss?

He brought a seat closed to me and sat. Brought out a

cigarette and asked if I want some. I told him I don’t
smoke. He lit one and started puffing smoke in the air.

He did that silently for about three minutes before

speaking.

“You will be here until every Kobo is confirmed in the

money you brought. Even if it is one naira less than N5
million, you will be in serious trouble,” he said without
remorse.

“While you are counting the money, can I see my

friends?” I asked.

“I need to confirm their health status especially my boss

whom you said is not doing alright.”

“You will see them when we are sure they are fit to go.
Besides they are not on this location,” he said.

96
His last comment came to me like a thunderclap.

“What? How? Where are they? If the money is not here

and my friends are not here, what then am I doing here?”
I asked.

“You are here because General Big Fish wants to meet

with you,” he said calmly.

There was another moment of silence.

My mind has wandered off to a land of many questions:

Why does Big Chimp wants to meet with me? What does
he want? Why bring me to another location entirely
different from where my boss and colleague are kept? Did
I say or make any offensive comment in the course of our
negotiation?

“Hey!” He called out.

“Why are you looking so worried?” He asked.

I didn’t respond. I just sat dumbfounded and troubled.

“You don’t need to be afraid little one,” he said,

mockingly.

“I spoke with you several times on phone and you

seemed quite an interesting chap. Your boldness and
calmness in the face of these challenges are
commendable.

97
You tried while under immense pressure to ensure you
didn’t jeopardize the lives of your friends.”

Challenges indeed, the very same challenges you brought

on me and my colleagues because of your criminal
activities is what you are commending me for? What an
irony! These were my exact thoughts but I dare not voice
it.

The fear of the one with the gun is the sustenance of that
wisdom gotten from the fear of the Lord.

“You might be wondering why you were ferried from one

location to another before finally been brought here,” he
said, looking straight at me.

I didn’t know if this statement was a question or a

comment so I just shook my head instead.

“We have been on your radar from Idama community.”

“Truly you don’t have any reason to be in Innocent Kiri or
Forty Five, but we needed to be sure you were not been
followed by any security forces.”

“So far, you have shown determination and resilience in

securing the release of your friends including making a
bold journey to our camp. That is commendable too.”

Surprisingly, Mr. Kidnapper had suddenly turned

General Apostle Macho, preaching determination and
resilience to me as I sat wrapped up in cold, surrounded
by guns and fierce looking goons, in the dead of the night

98
and middle of nowhere. This dude must be a joker of the
21st century.

“Can I ask you a question?” I inquired.

He looked at me for a while and motioned for me to go

ahead.

“You seemed an intelligent man and educated too, as

apparent in your good communication skills. What
influenced your being involved in this?” I asked.

He was silent, probably giving a thought to my question

so I probed further: “With the amount of planning and
strategy being put into the kidnapping of your victims, as
well as the carefully planned mode of engagement in
negotiating with your hostage families, and your means
of retrieving the negotiated money. Don’t you think, if
these energies are directed towards positive and
legitimate endeavors, you will make good fortunes and
still have a peace of mind?”

Before I could finish my analysis, he stood up abruptly

and walked away.

I felt an intense pressure to run. I hoped I had not

offended him with my discourteous remarks. He was our
key to getting out alive.

Several minutes passed before he returned holding a

bottle of Gordon Gin and another lit cigarette. I looked at

99
him trying to observe his countenance. He was literally
calm.

He sat down and for the next few minutes, he was

huffing and puffing smoke into the air.

He offered me a drink from the bottle which I declined

again.

I was almost tempted to accept the offer because of the

cold in the atmosphere, but restrained myself. I shouldn’t
be sharing drinks with the same man who shot at us
only 24 hours ago. But I wondered how they managed to
spend consecutive nights in this kind of environment.

The night is always cold and breezy and I can’t find any
camp fire, house or shack around.

“How do they even sleep?”

This is a terrible place to base, I thought.

“I have a B.Sc in Geology,” he said.

“I graduated with Second Class Honours (Upper Division)

and I am on the Dean’s Honours List of All Time Best
Graduating Students in the Faculty. By virtue of my field
of study, degree and academic achievement, I should be
working in one of these oil and gas producing companies
or engineering and construction companies, don’t you
think so?” He asked.

100
“This is what is obtainable in saner climes. Take Qatar
for example, I hear they pay their graduates as soon as
they pass out of the university, whether they’ve got a job
or not. And they ensured there is always a suitable job
for the graduates, especially those with high grades.”

“How many barrels of crude do they produce in a day?

How many do we produce in Nigeria?”

“Are they richer than us?” The answer is no!

“But they are living comfortably. Our people go over there

with good grades and end up as taxi drivers because they
value their own more.”

“Why is our case different here?” He asked.

I shook my head again, not knowing what to respond.

How can such an intelligent person end up engaging in
criminality?

“What could be his excuse? Could such excuse be

justified?”

I looked at him and found he was studying me. Obviously

allowing me to internalize the information I just received.

“I was offered employment as a Teaching Assistant by the

university I graduated from, but turned it down because I
had bigger prospects,” he continued.

101
“Teaching Assistant in a Federal University? That is a
paltry allowance of N35k a month.”

“Is that what my years of toil and labour plus academic

excellence can fetch me?”

“After my one year compulsory service with the National

Youth Service Corps (NYSC), I was transmitted into the
labour market.”

“I moved from one office to another, one company to

another, hunting for job placements as regards my field
of study.”

“You see these multinational companies? They are very

cruel people.”

“They see us Nigerians as second rated professionals in

our own country.”

“They bring in expatriates with little or no experience

from one small poverty stricken country; place the Oyibo
ahead of us who makes us do all the manual work.”

“The Oyibo takes all the credits; goes around in big cars
and security convoys; lives in luxury apartments; get
paid in Dollars and Pounds and still treat us like slaves
in our country. While we labour to impress our pay
masters and go home with body aches and miserable
earnings without any form of incentives.”

102
“The company Health Insurance Scheme is meant for the
Ogas and not for the boys.”

“So, when we get sick, we cater for our medical bills from
the meager salaries that hardly sustain our household
needs.”

“This is the true nature of things in the oil and gas

companies.”

“They just don’t care about you.”

“You may work out your ass but will never work up your
way to higher positions.”

“Whenever there is vacancy at the top, they bring in their

fellow Oyibo to take charge leaving you immobile in your
position.”

“I worked as a Data Analyst for one of these oil

companies. Our Unit Head, a Lebanese, was the worse of
their kind.”

“My father died and I was refused a leave of absence to

attend the burial.”

“He insists I must go on the morning of the burial and

return before the close of work same day. And when I
couldn’t make it back that day, he recommended my
sack to management stating insubstantial reasons”.

103
“Without a query or any form of investigation, I was
immediately relieved of my position with no settlement.”

“Funny thing is; the General Manager of my Department

whom the Lebanese reports to was someone from my
ethnic nationality.”

“You see, we used to kidnap only Oyibo, but our brothers

who travel outside the country seeking for Oyibo
engineers are also a big problem to the system.”

“So now, we kidnap whoever that is connected to the oil

companies.”

“Your friends are victims of circumstances.”

“It’s unfortunate but that is how it is today.”

“For the fact that you people represent the oil company,
we treat you like them as well. For every hostage we take,
for every pipeline we break and for every crude oil badge
we hijack, we send a resounding message to the
companies and it will be so until the narrative is
changed.”

While he was yet speaking, I saw movements from the far

end of our location. He turned back, looked into the
night, released his gun from safe mode and walked away.

I sat still, trying to take in all he had said. He had

resorted to criminality because of someone’s
insensitiveness towards his plight.

104
I wondered what might have given him the idea that
kidnapping and hostage taking was the way forward.

I have read and seen people who were mistreated,

rejected and beaten down but refused to stay down.

The likes of Nelson Mandela who was imprisoned for a

record 27 years and still held on to his belief should be
emulated.

If anything concerning the story of KFC owner was true,

then whatever reasons Big Chimp tenders is not
justifiable.

Colonel Harland David Sanders, founder of Kentucky

Fried Chicken, is rumoured to be a man who had been
rejected or disappointed time and again. A man, who lost
the love of a father at age six, dropped out of school, was
hired and fired several times by different companies
including the railway corporation. Invested and started
many businesses that was either crushed by superior
competitors or burnt to the ground by fire. His secret recipe
“Kentucky Fried Chicken” was rejected 1,009 times. After
years of failure and misfortunes, Sanders finally hit big,
expanded internationally and sold the company for Two
Million Dollars (over 15 million dollars’ worth today).

Sanders was able to succeed eventually because he didn’t

blame his misfortunes on the system or the government.
He didn’t blame his former employers, insensitive bosses
or market competitors. He didn’t take to arms in the spirit

105
of revenge and vendetta, otherwise, today; Sanders
wouldn’t have been remembered even in death as the
progenitor of KFC with over 18 thousand KFC locations in
over 100 countries.

While I pondered further on the matter, he re-emerged

with some members of his gang. I quickly recognized the
other two faces. They had accompanied the money along
with Mr. Sukubo and the boatman.

“Congratulations Joel,” he said as he came close.

“My boys had confirmed the money and assured me

everything was in order.”

“You truly kept to your words and for that I will ensure I
keep my end of the bargain as well.”

“My boys will lead you to Peni-Peni where you can reunite
with your friends and take them home.”

“I trust they will be happy to see you.”

“Where is Peni-Peni?” I asked.

“Don’t be alarmed, Peni-Peni is not far from here and the

night is usually the best time for us to sail,” he said.

“Your river guide and boatman are right there as we

speak, waiting to convey you people back to Idama. It
has been nice doing business with you,” he smiled.

106
“It has been nice doing business with me? This guy must
be completely crazy!”

Suddenly, he is all nice and gentlemanly? Why not be a

gentleman completely and return the money along with
my colleagues?

I wondered how many persons he had told that sorry

story of his and how many more he will tell.

At the end, it was about the quick cash and get rich
syndrome. Why didn’t he manage the Teaching Assistant
job and work his way up to becoming a lecturer if he
couldn’t withstand the demands of the oil companies and
genuinely wants to make money?

He expects me to believe his cock and bull story and

have pity on him? Barely 48 hours ago; I was scampering
for my life as a result of his gun running entrance into
Idama.

I turned to him and asked: “What was the name of the

settlement we saw on our way here?”

He looked surprised.

“Why do you want to know?” he asked.

“Nothing, just a habit,” I replied.

“I am an adventurer and like to take cognizance of places

I visit. I know I am not on a leisure tour right now but

107
the fact that I came, I should be able to remember when
the name is mentioned in the future, that’s all,” I said.

“That settlement is called Odibo Kiri,” he answered.

“What of this place we are in right now, what is it

called?” I asked again.

He looked at me, smiled and not willing to divulge is

exact location, walked away.

I knew he was going to do that.

Smart ass!

108
 CHAPTER EIGHT
JOURNEY TO PENI-PENI

T
he darkness seemed not to welcome me as we
started out to Peni-Peni. Not even a hint of
moonlight is visible on the river.

I noticed the team leader had killed the boat engine and
was using a wooden paddle to control the boat.

Movement is very slow as a result of that but I knew

exactly why.

Irrespective of the fact that these goons know the terrain

in and out and can drive even in the darkest hours of the
night, the sound of the engine is likely to attract security
patrol teams.

Luckily I was not blindfolded, but I can’t tell for sure if I

am seeing anything beyond the mouth of the boat.

It’s completely dark and I still hate the darkness.

The birds that welcomed me earlier with sweet songs of

melody had all said their good nights. The tailorbirds,
egrets and the waterhens are nowhere to be found. Only
a whoosh swoosh whizz coming from the paddle as it
parts the river and makes little effort for our boat to sail.

I wondered how long it will take us getting to Peni-Peni

with the slow pace and rate we are moving.

109
The wooden paddle reminds me of the courageous
fishermen I had seen earlier that morning at Idama
tending to their nets.

The people of Idama and indeed many coastal

communities value the canoe and paddle means of
transportation. The level of craftsmanship infused in it is
highly commendable. Though movement may seem slow
especially when one is sailing against the tide but it
enables them gain lots of balance when casting their
nets.

In our case, movement is much slower because the

wooden paddle was been used on a fibre boat meant to
be powered by a 75hp speed boat engine.

The squad leader had not said a word or smiled since the
incidence back at the camp.

He kept looking at me and looking away.

I wondered what was going on in his mind.

I wanted to apologize for making Big Fish reprimand him.

On a second thought, I should let the sleeping dog lie.

“Why is Big Fish afraid at the knowledge that I knew his

name? Could it be a name that can be easily used to
identify him? Maybe I will ask around when we get back.
Make some contacts; probably give the name to the
CADM.”

110
Our sponsors have had several dealings with these goons
in the pasts on many incidences of kidnapping of their
staff. Maybe, with his name, we can identify and
apprehend him soon.

These could be what Mr. Crooked voice was avoiding.

“Yes, it has to be!”

There is no place for the wicked. Whatever a man sows,

that he shall also reap!

From a distance, we saw light flashes across the sea.

The squad leader quickly and quietly docked the boat on

a narrow path and signaled us to remain still.

Behind me, the other boys with heavy guns were getting
into combat positions.

Please God, do not let this happen, I prayed.

It’s dark and the security patrol does not have any idea
of a civilian been ferried across. If there be exchange of
bullets, we never can tell who can be caught in the line of
fire.

We docked for about ten minutes till the team leader was
certain there was no trace of the patrol before he signaled
us to move out again.

111
I noticed the squad leader did not convey us out to sea as
he intended initially, but rather used the narrow paths of
the creek.

We journeyed through the narrow paths for about fifteen

minutes before coming to another open sea.

We quickly crossed to the other side and move into

another narrow path, this time much smaller.

A boat twice as big as the one we have may have

difficulty passing through.

I wondered how these people get familiar with all these

strategic routes.

Places like this will be impenetrable for any gun boat no

matter the size.

No wonder they always succeed.

Who will chase someone into a place like this when you
don’t know what lies in wait for you?

The mangroves are very thick and can become a shade to

anybody without you noticing it. These people
understood the value of the narrow paths and utilize it to
their advantage.

Even if I come through these paths in daylight, I don’t

think I can still find my way around without the help of a
river guide.

112
The canals all look too familiar.

One can hardly tell which passage leads you to which

settlement.

The moon had suddenly remembered me and brightened

the paths. However, apart from a little distance ahead,
there is nothing much anybody can see.

Its past 12.00midnight and the night is at its darkest

hour.

Again, we saw flash lights, the squad leader stopped,

observed for a while and moved on.

Why is he not docking? I wondered.

On getting close to the light, it was from the lamp of

fishermen who had come to toil for the night.

They looked at us, looked away immediately and went

about their affairs. I can imagine the courage they take in
coming out to fish irrespective of these gun running
hoodlums parading the sea at night.

Obviously, such encounters had become typical as they

no longer bother on what transpires in the creeks any
more. In as much as they are given the liberty to go
about their fishing, they are ready to keep shut and mind
their business. Very pathetic!

113
Within a distance of ten minutes, we have encountered
more than six fishing boats. Their reactions on seeing us
had been the same. Look away and mind your business!

I imagined how they will feel if they returned home in the

morning and found out their family member had been
ferried across in the very boat they saw and had the
opportunity of raising an alarm but looked away.

I remembered the river guide and the boatman who had

accompanied me during my journey earlier that day.

Something must be wrong somewhere.

These villagers know the terrain very well and they know
the location of these criminals but are not saying or
doing anything to halt the menace.

What will it cost them using one of the river guides and
leading the security patrol teams to these locations?

If these goons are flushed out of the territory, there will

be relative peace in the communities. So why can’t
members of the various communities within this territory
that is been terrorized by kidnappers come together and
take necessary actions?

I don’t see any reason leaving out the bulk work of

fighting crooks to the security forces alone when
obviously the security forces cannot penetrate the heart
of the creeks where the criminals are camped.

114
Does this bring to fact the rumor that some of the
community members act as spies who send and receive
information from the kidnappers?

For another ten minutes, we journeyed silently throw the

dark creeks.

The moonlight had retreated back into the clouds and we

are once again moving in the darkness.

I saw lamps on the other side of the river.

As we crossed over and got closer, I noticed some

activities going on at the riverside.

From the look of things, boys and girls in their teens

numbering about six were dragging nets on the
shoreline.

Two held the nets from both ends; two were carrying
locally constructed lanterns while two were carrying
buckets. I noticed they were hunting for crayfish and not
the usual fishing activities.

We went past them a bit and anchored at the jetty. This

could not be classified as a jetty. It was all rocks and
sand.

From the outskirt, I can tell we have reached Peni-Peni.

115
 CHAPTER NINE
FREEDOM

T
he team leader asked me to step down which I
obliged peacefully. He pointed towards a semi-
thatched house and said I should move over there
and wait.

When I got closer, two figures started walking towards

me.

I felt a bit excited but got disappointed when it appeared

to be Mr. Sukubo, my river guide and the boatman. Still,
I was beginning to see familiar faces; that was good news
in itself.

Nobody could ascertain what might have happened to me

if I hadn’t turned up as expected.

“Are you with my people?” I asked.

They shook their heads disappointedly.

I didn’t like their response. I thought I had come to Peni-

Peni to meet with my colleagues, where then might they
be?

Anyway, the team leader had instructed me to wait,

which means they are likely on their way to release my
boss and colleague.

116
General Big Fish had given me his word and he seemed
like one who will honour it. I will wait patiently.

After about ten minutes later, two more figures emerged

from the darkness.

This time, from the far end of the river.

I waited to see who they were.

When they approached me, it was my boss and

colleague. No sight of the team leader and his gun
trotting boys.

To God be the glory!

Mr. Olusola was lending a helping hand to my boss, Mr.

Elemele, who looked fatigued and very sickly. I rushed
out to them and we all had a warm embrace.

I quickly moved them into the semi-thatched house and

out of sight.

No need to waste any more time, let’s move out as soon

as possible I said to the boatman.

It’s past 2.00am in the morning, we will wait here and

move out at the first sight of light, the river guide
explained.

I was no longer interested in the darkness. What we need

now is to get back to Idama and straight to Port

117
Harcourt. My boss does seem so good and is in need of
medical attention.

I asked if they were able to retrieve their phones. Mr.

Olusola gave me his phone, but the network was out of
coverage.

“Globacom network is what they use here, that is why

they were using my boss’s phone to contact us because
he uses Glo network,” Olusola explained.

I got hold of my boss’s phone, but the call credit had

been used out due to the frequent communication with
the kidnappers.

Very well then, we have to wait till we get to Idama in the

morning before communicating with our people.

The boatman and river guide were fast asleep, but the
three of us could not sleep. The cold seemed very strong
as the night breeze persistently invaded the semi-
thatched house. I looked at my boss and saw him
shivering uncontrollably. I felt very bad seeing him in
such a horrible state.

Mr. Elemele Dickson is from Ikwerre ethnic group, part of

the region they refer to as Upland in Rivers State. He had
lived all his life in the city of Port Harcourt and its
environs. This experience was too cruel to him. And the
earlier we get him medical assistance the better for us.

118
Olusola is a young man and seemed to have adapted to
the situation. I told him about my communication with
Ajoke, his sister, who is already in Port Harcourt as we
speak waiting to hear the good news. I am sure he’s
gradually becoming calm.

A dead man would not feel the cold. It is better to be cold

than to die.

In order to ease my mind off the whole stress, I decided

to take a walk down the riverside and watch the young
lads and maidens as they carry out their crayfish
hunting. They seemed to be making a lot of progress.

By the morning, they will go to the marketplace, sell off

their game and smile home with cool cash.

Life seems complex to the rich and simple to the poor.

What an irony!

119
 CHAPTER TEN
THE REUNION

M
orning came soon, but I didn’t notice. I had
slept off on one of the benches in the semi-
thatched house which I came to know as Peni-
Peni Rest House. The events of the past two days had
weighed me. And though I wanted to be vigilant, when
sleep came calling, I couldn’t repel it.

The river guide woke me up indicating that its past

5.00am and time for us to move out. I looked beyond my
shoulders and found Olusola and my boss lying in
opposite directions. My boss was still shivering from the
cold. The boatman was not in sight. The river guide told
me he was already at the seashore tending to the boat.

I woke Olusola and together we assisted my boss to his

feet and down the riverside. In the next five minutes, we
were out to the sea once more.

The cold breeze of the morning seemed more terrifying

than the night. I used the tarpaulin to cover my boss to
keep him warm. This tarpaulin is a saving grace and had
played its role in this journey. It has helped me conceal
the money bags and now keeping my boss warm.

The journey back to Idama seemed very short. In about

ten minutes, the familiar Idama jetty was already in
sight. I hissed a huge sigh of relief. Finally I was able to
pull through. Nobody believed we could do this without

120
the aid of the police. Even I didn’t believe in myself but I
kept going and right now, success was at the door.

As we anchored at the jetty, I saw fishermen tending to

their nets in their usual back-from-fishing routine. I
wondered if they were the same fishermen we had
encountered on our night trip from the kidnappers camp
to Peni-Peni.

With the help of the river guide, we carried my boss to

the Chief’s house who was elated to see us return alive.
They were very worried when they couldn’t reach me on
phone and didn’t see me return the previous night as
expected, he explained.

I inquired of the CADM whom the Chief said was at the

guest house.

“The CADM was very disturbed last night,” said the

Chief.

“He made several frantic calls to management, the police

DPO and the DGM.”

“He stayed up late till 12.00pm.”

“It was at my insistence that he left for the guest house

to lay his head. I doubt if he’d found any sleep at all,” the
Chief said.

I am beginning to like the CADM. The urge to soccer-

punch him in the face had subsided eventually and

121
though I still blamed him for not advising management
in doing the right thing, he had so far shown sincerity
and commitment to our plight. His persistence and
efforts in securing the approval of management for
release of the money was commendable. Whether he was
making up for their blunder or not, there is need to
appreciate his efforts.

The Chief advised we should go to the guest house, have

a hot bath and change of clothes which sounded like a
good idea. We aided my boss and left for the guest house.

The CADM was already at the reception when we

entered. He almost jumped to his feet on sighting us. He
couldn’t believe his eyes.

“Joel, you pulled this through at the long last,” he said as

he walked towards us.

I just grinned and gave out my hand for a warm

handshake.

This is the first time I was shaking his hands.

Why not?

After all, all is forgiven.

I told him to call Chief and arrange for the security escort
and also to call management and inform them of the
good news while we go in to refresh our bodies. He was
already on phone as we walked towards the hallway.

122
I got to my room, went on my knees in thanksgiving. I
didn’t realize the dangers inherent in this event until I
found myself blindfolded and been led through muddy
waters.

It was God’s grace that I didn’t panic or acted foolishly.

My blood streams were all caught up in my system yet I
managed to hold myself together until I had achieved
success.

When we left Port Harcourt, no one knew what we were

about to face. This unfortunate adventure should be a
blockbuster story I thought.

I dialed my wife’s number and she picked on the first

ring.

She was terrified.

“What happened?” She asked.

She had been trying to reach me all night long.

We spoke for about fifteen minutes before I hung up. She

was furious on getting to know that I was responsible for
the drop without pre-informing her. She accused me of
been self-centered and insensitive for taking excessive
risks without first considering my family and how
miserable they will be if something terrible had happened
to me. I explained my reason and apologized to her.

123
Imagine she been aware of my journey and tried all night
to reach me with no success, she would have died of
heart attack even before I got the chance to tell her the
good news.

However, her mind was at peace now and that is the

most important thing. I told her we were getting set to
return to Port Harcourt and the news cheered her more.

After speaking with Ijeoma, I went into the bathroom to

wash off the mud on me.

I spent considerable moments in the bathroom re-living

the events of the past 48 hours. Ijeoma’s accusation
worked some moods in me and I wondered if truly I had
been insensitive as she implied. The answer was loud
and unarguable.

She was right.

All I ever thought of in the course of this journey was the

safety of my boss and colleague without considering my
own safety. Had any form of jeopardy occurred, the story
would have been different.

I left the bathroom and quickly dressed up. Took the

personal effects of my boss and colleague and left my
room.

I stopped at my boss room to check on him and handover

his bags. A local nurse had earlier administered some
cold relief medications to him. His system was getting

124
warmer. He opened the door when I knocked and walked
back to his sitting position on the bed. He had a towel
around his waist and probably getting set to take his
bath.

He beckoned on me to come closer.

As I did, he stood up and embraced me. We stood still for

few seconds before refraining. I looked at him and saw
watery eyes. There was no reason to ask him questions. I
knew exactly what had been running on his mind.

There are lots of “what ifs” one could ask in a situation

like this but the most important thing right now is we are
all alive and safe.

I told him to have a hot bath and come down to the

reception as quickly as possible. We should be on our
way back to Port Harcourt any moment from now. I am
still bothered about his health and until a competent
Doctor attends to him, I won’t be satisfied.

Next I stopped at Olusola’s room. He was already on

phone with his sister. I can hear her from the
background crying ceaselessly. Another round of “what
ifs” going on in their conversation.

I dropped his bag on the bed, made a sign language

indicating we are running out of time which he nodded in
agreement then I closed the door and walked down to the
reception.

125
The CADM and the Chief was there. I was informed that
the security patrol team was on their way to escort us
back to Abonnema.

I sat down and decided to make the other important

calls.

I spoke with Mrs. Dickson and informed her that her

husband was safe now and will soon reunite with her.
She asked to speak with him and I told her he will call as
soon as he is stable. She cried some more and thanked
me for my effort. I have been receiving a lot of thanks
recently and my wife thought I was been insensitive.

I called the office and broke the news. There was wild
jubilation. I told them to send the staff bus down to
Abonnema as soon as possible.

Mr. Agio Mark insisted he will accompany the driver to

Abonnema. I didn’t have any reason to object.

Mr. Agio Mark was also a senior staff of our company. We

are on the same level and earn the same paycheck.
Outside our work schedule, he had been a reliable friend
and trusted ally. We share the same political ideologies
and sympathy.

I called the DGM and we spoke. He expressed

disappointment in my refusal to cooperate with the police
but commended me for my doggedness. I had suddenly
become the hero of this story.

126
Within minutes, Olusola joined us at the reception
looking refreshed. I teased him of writing a book about
his experience and he smiled.

“You had a better experience than me so you should

write the book. I will help you with the foreword,” he
teased back.

“I am glad you are back,” I said.

“Thank you for everything you did while we were in

captivity,” he replied.

We smiled and shook hands.

Thinking about it, I really pulled some crazy stunts. I

don’t know if I could do it over again. The misfortune
that drove me into taking this precarious journey
shouldn’t be wished on anyone, not even an enemy.

There are lots of kidnap victims who do not make it out

alive. There are those who tried to make the drop and
end up been victims themselves.

Big Fish seemed to be a principled criminal. His interest

lies in the money and he didn’t show much greed.
Principled criminal indeed! Hilarious!

Few hours later, the security team arrived. Immediately

everyone sprang to actions, packing bags and saying
good byes. Only my boss was out of sight. I walked up to
his guestroom and found him in deep asleep.

127
He was breathing calmly and his nerves seemed to be at
ease. I was tempted to close the door and let him sleep,
he needs it apparently, but we have to go, so I tapped
him gently on the shoulders and assisted him to sit up. I
told him, we were getting set to move out and there was
need for him to prepare as well. I helped him with his
bags and within minutes we were both walking down the
lobby.

The Chief organised some youths who carried our bags

and personal effects to the riverside while we say our
final goodbye. The Chief’s wife was also present to say
her farewell. I will never forget her kind heartedness and
hospitality. Especially the delicious Iku-Fulor.

The CADM had planned to join us to Port Harcourt where

he is expected to submit a comprehensive report of the
last 48 hours’ events to Management and communicate
the way forward to us.

We walked silently to the jetty.

My boss was looking stronger and healthier than he was

three hours ago. Evidently, the cold is gradually escaping
from his system. But I still intend on pressurizing him in
visiting the company Doctor once we are safely in Port
Harcourt. I deemed it quite necessary.

We sat firmly in our boat, waved one more time to the

Chief, his wife and the youths as the boat’s engine cried

128
to life, picked momentum and sped off, tailing the
security patrol team from behind.

I turned back to have one last look at Idama; this is

indeed a peaceful community. I prayed the activities of
criminals, sea pirates and kidnappers within the Idama
territory do not have negative impact on the community,
its inhabitants and development aspirations.

Imagine the loss they just recorded as a result of the

failed Stakeholder’s Engagement Programme. A lot of
community leaders and members were looking forward to
a shared understanding between them and the company
which would have tremendously improved their working
relationships and cooperation.

It is unfortunate that such a golden opportunity had to

slip through their fingers without an assurance of a
second chance.

I wondered if someone conducts a Social Impact

Evaluation of criminal activities on the community and
its environs, what visible impact could be rated as
holding the highest bearing.

I promised myself I was going to take some drastic steps

in assisting members of Idama community to curbing the
menace that has evaded their peaceful environment. If
the likes of Big Fish and his accomplices are
apprehended and brought to book; there could be relative
peace in the communities.

129
Big Fish had told me he controls the Oceania territory.

Nothing happens within that terrain without his notice

and permission.

He has foot soldiers in Peni-Peni, Dari-Ama, Boro, Ngeri-

Mbana, Forty Five, Odibo-Kiri, Innocent Kiri, and even the
old settlement of Idama people known as Ekule-Ama.

He had boasted that his hegemony goes beyond Idama

and spans over the Abisse regions with communities like
Angala-ama, Abaji-ama, Ibro-kiri, Opu-Abisse, Sani-kiri
and Bishop-kiri under his command.

Such a person should not be left unchecked. There is

great need for the community leaders and the security
agencies to cut his feathers to the barest minimum
before he causes great havoc in the area.

As Abonnema came into sight, I heaved a huge sigh of

relief.

Finally, we are leaving the creeks and back to the city

where the rules of the game is determined by the
government of the day and not some vengeance-seeking,
horrible-looking and guns-wielding Saddam Hussein
wannabes.

Our company vehicle was already stationed at the Idama

waterside waiting to convey us back to Port Harcourt. We
exchanged quick pleasantries with Mr. Agio Mark and

130
surprisingly, the District Police Officer who didn’t show
any sign of pleasure in seeing us.

He excused the CADM and spoke with him for a while.

When they returned, I was informed that I needed to visit
the Port Harcourt Area Command the next day for
questioning.

The CADM has insisted the issue be handled by the Port

Harcourt division because he was not looking forward to
spending another minute in Abonnema.

The CADM explained to me that the Police needs every

relevant information I can furnish them with in order to
swiftly hunt and apprehend the kidnappers.

I welcomed the idea with delight.

On our journey from Idama to Abonnema; I had

contemplated on the many ways I can help in bringing
Big Fish and his co-actors to justice. Clearly, cooperating
and working with the police was the best approach.

First thing tomorrow, I am going to the State Central

Intelligence Department in Port Harcourt to make a
detailed report of my journey and experience.

I pray it makes a difference.

131
 CHAPTER ELEVEN
AN END TO TERROR

A
s perceived earlier, Big Fish was indeed a popular
name in the riverine communities and one of the
most wanted criminals in the books of the
security agencies in the state.

This was made known to me by the officer assigned to

the case in the State Central Intelligence Department
(SCID).

Few hours after our return to Port Harcourt; Myself, Mr.

Olusola Rotimi, Mr. Agio Mark and the CADM who I later
came to know as Engr. Augustine Iyalla had visited the
SCID for a debrief with the Police Anti-Kidnapping
Squad, and to make a formal report of the events that
characterized the abduction of my boss and colleague.

The Police Officer, a Superintendent, had told us that,

General Big Fish was declared as the State’s number one
public enemy several months ago. A special tactical team
was also set up to unveil the true identity of Big Fish and
get him arrested but not much progress had been made
because Big Fish remains a ghost without any formal
identity.

He was elated with the amount of information we were

able to furnish him. He expressed gratitude with a
commendation that we have achieved in two days what
their special tactical team couldn’t do in seven months.

132
In my report, I had narrated our journey from Idama to
Innocent Kiri, from Forty Five to the unknown settlement.

I had also pointed out that Dari-Ama was not more than
twenty minutes walking distance from the unknown
settlement through the mangroves. And Peni-Peni was
not more than forty minutes’ drive on a boat using
wooden paddle. Apparently, the unknown settlement is
within the Dari-Ama and Peni-Peni axis.

I had also reported the facial description and physique of

Big Fish and his second in command. I told the officer
about his employment history. Though, the name of the
company was not mentioned, but he was a sacked Data
Analysts in one of the multinationals and graduated with
Second Class Honours (Upper Division in Geology from a
Federal University.

I was satisfied with the amount of information I could

give. Obviously my inquisition was able to thrust through
to the emotional side of Big Fish and thrown him off
balance that before he could realize, he had divulged a
good detail about himself to me. I am certain he expects
to gain my sympathy after telling me his story but why
should I? A criminal is a criminal no matter his motive
for going into criminality.

Come to think of it, if any of our team members had been

shot in their process of trying to kidnap us, would one be
thinking of sympathy? What of the many victims who
had lost their lives as a result of the deadly activities of

133
Big Fish and his gang of hoodlums? Was he sympathetic
to their plight and that of their loved ones? No!

It is my wish that he and his evil band of kidnappers are

apprehended and justice is served in the same measure
they had carried out their criminal activities.

The Officer assured us that the tactical team would be

dispatched immediately to Abonnema where they will
receive the support of the DPO and the Joint Task Force
Commander. He promised to be in touch and feed us
with regular updates till the mission is accomplished.

Now was the best time to take action and bring the
menace created by Big Fish and his gang to an end, he
said.

We returned to the office hoping to hear from the Police

as promised. The company Secretary informed us that
Mrs. Dickson had taken the boss to the hospital for
medical checks. I’d liked the fact that she did exactly
what I had called her earlier to do.

By 9.00pm that evening, I received a call from the

Superintendent. He told me they were able to locate and
dissipate the camp in the process killing about five
members of the gang but Big Fish narrowly escaped after
engaging them in gun battle for over two hours.

They, however, captured the second in command who is

currently in their custody in Abonnema and undergoing
intense interrogation.

134
He also informed me that Big Fish’s real identity had
been uncovered as Somina George from Kula community.

Big Fish according to the Police Officer had been linked

with several kidnap cases including a Bishop who died in
their custody and the wife of a prominent oil magnate
from Rivers State.

The second in command had also mentioned one Chief

Abel Gogo-Fubara as their informant from Idama
community who told them about our programme and the
exact time the team were to arrive. He has been arrested
and detained as well, the officer said.

I couldn’t believe what I just heard. Chief Abel? The same

Chief who had been with us throughout the period? The
same Chief whose wife’s hospitality I had enjoyed and
desired to visit again? The same person who was running
ahead of me when the shooting began? How is that
possible?

“Could this be the reason he was furious when I

successfully negotiated the ransom from N7million down
to N5million?”

No doubt, he was angry because he was part of the

syndicate.

He’d managed to influence the community leaders into

making him the Liaison Officer so he can have unlimited

135
access to vital information concerning the programme
but how he was able to achieve that baffles me.

I have seen greedy and self-centered people all my life

but never one who could jeopardize the development
efforts of an entire community for his selfish gains. Chief
Abel is the devil’s incarnate and I can’t believe he was so
devious to the extent that none of us could detect his
antics.

Thank God I didn’t reveal my intention of going to the

Police to him. Thank God the arrangement with the
Police to hunt for Big Fish took place in Abonnema after
we had left Idama. Who knows what could have befallen
us again? Thank God the long arm of the law had caught
up with him.

I wondered if his wife was aware of his treachery acts but

had welcomed us in pretense. The wickedness of this
world knows no bound, truly!

The officer told me Big Fish sustained serious injury

during the hot exchange and cannot hide for too long.
The security teams are combing every part of the creek to
fish him out. He assured me of good news by the
morning and hung up.

I still can’t believe Chief was not only part of the

syndicate terrorizing his own community but in fact the
mastermind of the kidnap that brought a development
process sought after by members of his community to a
standstill.

136
I remembered him mobilizing youths into the mangroves
in search of my boss and colleague. What a mockery!

That night I went to bed replaying all the events once

again. At every point of the negotiation process, Chief
was there, giving us moral support and hospitality.
Indeed, an enemy of man is from his household.

M
orning greeted the airwaves with news of the
death of kidnap kingpin, General Big Fish. The
scroll bar of the news station showing on my
screen reads: “BREAKING NEWS: Police guns down
notorious kidnapper Big Fish in a fierce gun battle that
took place in the early hours of Thursday.”

I picked up my phone and saw seventeen missed calls.

How did I sleep so deep? I had spent a considerable part
of the night absorbing the very disturbing news I got
from the Police Superintendent. I wanted to call the
CADM and tell him about it but I am certain he must
have heard as well.

I checked my call records and saw missed calls from Mr.

Agio, Mr. Olusola, Mrs. Okwara, Mr. Aniefiok, Engr.
Iyalla and my boss. Why am I the last person getting this
information? The time on my phone read 06.54am. I
must have slept for long.

Just as I was about to step into the bathroom, the CADM

called again. We spoke and he confirmed the death of Big
Fish. The security team had traced him to his maternal

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home in Tombia where he engaged them in serious gun
battle for some time before they succeeded in taking him
down. Sources say he ran out of ammunitions.

The Police had requested we come over to the station for

detailed information. They were scheduled to hold a
press briefing later that day. I promised to meet the
CADM and other members of the team as soon as
possible.

I hung up, turned around and found Ijeoma staring at

me and then she walked over and embraced me. Dear, I
was really afraid when I heard last night that Big Fish
escaped. Nothing could have stopped him from coming
for you believing you gave out his location to the police,
she said.

Well, now he can’t do that anymore I said, smiling at her.

She sat on the bed and shifted her attention to the

screen where the breaking news story kept replaying. He
can’t do that now I murmured to myself as I walked into
the bathroom.

T
he State Central Intelligence Department was
crowded with reporters from various news media. I
made my way through the crowd into the officer’s
waiting room where I found the CADM and others seated.
In the adjacent hall I saw a media crew setting up sound
systems for the press briefing.

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The Superintended emerged from an office and beckoned
on us. We followed him inside and found the JTF
Commander from Abonnema, the DPO and the
Commissioner of Police seated.

The Commissioner of Police rose and shook hands with

us, likewise the JTF Commander and the DPO. We were
greeted with smiles and ushered to a chair like princes.

The Police Commissioner commended us for giving the

police vital information that led to the obliteration of a
kidnap syndicate that had almost become a torn on the
flesh of the security agencies for several months.

They informed us that for the sake of our safety, security

and privacy, they will refrain from giving out our identity
to the media. I thought it a good decision. Who knows
how many foot soldiers Big Fish have who may choose to
avenge the death of their leader someday?

In the issue of kidnapping as a money making venture,

the actors cannot be completely annihilated. There will
always arise another Big Fish and yet another. The trade
seemed very lucrative and nobody ever believed they will
meet their waterloo one way or another.

After the press briefing, we left the SCID and went

straight to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching
Hospital were my boss was on admission for medical
checks and bed rest.

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He was looking well rested and refreshed. The effect of
the creek journey had lessened out of his system. We
informed him of our discussion with the police and their
decision to keep us away from the eyes of the media. He
saw reasons with them and was satisfied with the
concluding events.

My boss directed that I proceed on a week-long leave and

spend some time with my family to cool off the stress of
the past days.

After insisting to stay back with no avail, I thanked him

and left for the house.

He was right after all, I also need to rest my nerves and

focus some time on the good things availeth much by life
such as the love of a family.

Ijeoma and the boys will be glad when I announce my

intention of a family vacation to them. She had wanted
for long to visit Obudu Cattle Ranch in Tinapa, Cross
River State; this will be the best time to fulfill that desire.

The End.

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 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kenson Kenneth Ibialabo

is a youth activist,
author, bible scholar,
media consultant, and
communications expert.

Apart from writing,

Kenson enjoys social
commentary and public
speaking. An ICT
Specialist who has written several articles, journals and e-
books on various Information, Communication and
Technology related matters.

His research content spans into various facets of life

including science, literature, religion and politics.

He is the author of “Do Not Mock God”, a book on

Christian values, hypocrisy and its consequences,
reviewed and published by Amazon.com (Kindle Direct
Publishing).

He is the Manager, ICT Projects & Resources at Afrisource

Innovation and Development Centre Ltd. He also operates
his personal business, BIKK Systems Consult, a tech
company in Port Harcourt.

He is married with kids.

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