THE husband of a teacher kidnapped in Ekiti State, Pastor Clement Adebisi, shared the family’s harrowing experience he faced during the time his wife was kidnapped.
He expressed his initial devastation upon learning of the incident and described the frantic efforts to gather the ransom demanded by the abductors.
Adebisi revealed that he refrained from eating and bathing during the seven days of his wife’s captivity, relying on prayer and fasting for strength.
Despite his fears, Adebisi resolved to confront the kidnappers, ultimately leading a mission to rescue the victims.
“In the beginning, I had lots of fears about going and facing the gunmen. That was the last thing on my mind. But one of our leaders called us together and told us we would be the ones to go to the forest to take delivery of our people who were kidnapped. It could be dreadful. One person complained of weak legs, and another said he was elderly and that I was the one the kidnappers had been calling, I then asked if it was only the pastor they wanted to sacrifice as Jesus Christ was sacrificed for the sins of the world. That was on Saturday evening before we embarked on the mission to bring them back.
“Suddenly, it came to my mind that I came to Emure Ekiti in 2007 with my wife; will something just come and take her away from me? I said no. I asked for the key to the motorcycle and I asked the second man, ‘Do you love your wife?’ he said, ‘Yes’. I said, ‘Let’s go. Wherever my wife is, I will go there to rescue her’. In the Bible, Abraham did such, and so also David. It was a long tortuous journey to the forest for the rescue, but at the end of the day, we give God all the glory”.
He recounted the tense encounter with the abductors and the emotional moment of reuniting with his wife.
“On getting to that place, a Fulani gunman came from the bush, and pointed the gun at me; two others appeared and pointed guns at me as well. We exchanged everything and they ordered that our people should be brought to us. They were taking the abductees about in the bush as if they were taking animals to graze. One of them searched me and asked, ‘Are you with a gun?’ I answered, ‘I don’t know how to handle a gun’. He found and took the N50,000 I had kept in my pocket to buy items like glucose or energy boosters for the abductees upon their release so that they could have strength. He returned N100 to me out of the N50,000. He ordered me to take my people and leave.
“Not only her. My calculation was to rescue all of them. Even though she was very weak, I did not carry her; I first brought out the children and one woman. I left her and took out the others first because I was convinced that nothing would happen to her. It was when we got to where the bus was that I discovered that one of the victims (the driver) was missing, and when I asked for him, the others said the kidnappers had killed him. I was pained to the marrow. It was painful that they killed him.
Adebisi also detailed the physical and emotional trauma his wife endured during her captivity, including witnessing the killing of the bus driver and enduring severe beatings.
“The killing of the driver by the kidnappers in the presence of the abductees was one of the experiences she had. She told me that the man was beside her when he was shot dead. My wife was severely tortured. How can you use machetes to flog a human being, a woman for that matter? You can see scars all over her body – back, legs, arms, neck – she received heavy slaps. When she was there, whenever I had the opportunity to hear her voice, she would say, ‘Daddy, look for the money, don’t let them kill me,’ amidst serious weeping. I just took the courage that God would intervene. I thank God that He intervened. So, when I saw her, my mind was on how to take care of her”.
Currently, Adebisi’s wife is receiving medical treatment and he expressed gratitude for the support received, particularly from the governor and medical staff.
“If I had been asked to pay for the treatment she has received here so far, I think I would have become hypertensive. I thank God for the governor for what he is doing. I pray that his family will not experience such calamity like this. He tried a lot for me, my family as well as the other families. The governor proved himself a worthy leader who can be followed. He is a leader whose word is his bond. The governor amazes me with all he is doing. I believe that somebody who is doing all these will not fail these three women in the aspect of giving them employment. I can see that he has a passion for human beings. He genuinely loves and has feelings for the people. He does not want anybody to suffer. I appreciate the governor, the government, the doctors, nurses, and other staff members of the hospital, and the people of Ekiti State generally”.
He appealed for employment opportunities for the victims and praised the governor’s efforts, expressing hope and continued support for those affected.
