Maranatha Innocent who went missing for three days in Makurdi,
Benue state has narrated her experience in the hands of her kidnappers.
Maranatha was kidnapped by suspected ritualists on March 8th but was
found on March 11th. Taking to her Facebook page to narrate her
experience, she wrote;
“The
8th of March 2017 will forever remain a day to remember. So I went to
the bank to withdraw some money since my mum needed it that evening and I
wouldn’t be back home until 5pm.
Of course banks will be closed by then so I had to withdraw that
morning. Like every other day, I left for school after I finished from
the bank (cake school).
Funny
enough I closed early that day. Left the bakery, couldn’t get a bike,
had to walk down the road before I saw an okada. Good afternoon, good
afternoon. Behind midway inn (from makurdi club) how much??100 naira.
Okay. And off we went. For those of us who are familiar with makurdi,
after tito gate, savannah round about, katsina ala street and then still
on katsina ala street, by the sharp bend heading to bank road, there`s
Word Aflame and then where they dump refuse.
Na im this oga stop say
im won piss. Well of course I have taken bikes before and they have
stopped to “piss” and there after, our journey continues. So when this
oga stopped, I didn’t suspect anything fishy. I backed him while he was
doing his business and I stood there “pressing phone”. Next thing, a
vehicle pulled over in front of me, three guys came down. One from the
driver`s seat, and two from the passengers side. Those from the
passengers side walked up to me while the other came down and leaned by
the door.
After we exchanged pleasantries, they asked for directions
to”Tionsha”. I turned to describe the place, and thats all I can
remember.
Ghen! Ghen!! It was like I was sleeping and woke up in a
certain room. My hands tied behind me, legs tied in front, my mouth was
also tied. Three other ladies were there who were also tieds,, we all
sat on the floor. The room was painted yellow, it had two doors. One for
the toilet and the other led outside. There was a table and a chair, a
wall clock, a ceiling fan and it was all ruged.
I have never been
soo scared in my life. You know the feeling of crying over and over
again. Confessing your sins over and over and making several promises to
God if only He will deliver me and help me leave there alive. The guys
came in to keep watch over us wearing masks, there would sit and stare
at us while we cry in our hearts since we couldn’t cry out.
Well, that was on a Wednesday. We were there till Saturday without food or water. The only Communication we had was if we wanted to go to toilet. You either nod or shake your head.
So on Saturday, at about past 4pm,
a man walked in with something like a walking stick in a white agbada,
bare feet and a turban tied around his head. I sat on the floor by the
door, he walked pass me and went to the lady at the end of the room. He
placed the staff over her head. Nothing happened and then he gave her a
dirty slap. He then placed it again and it made a sound of a welding
machine. (When two metals are been weld together)My heart was pounding
inside my chest, sweating like I have never sweated before.
The
uncle placed it on the head of both the second and third ladies, and it
made the same sound effortlessly. And then it was my turn. Still
sweating and shaking like a leaf. He then placed it over my head, lo and
behold, no sound. And then he gave me the most dirty slap I have ever
received. He adjusted it and placed it over my head again. Still no
sound. And that was how he ordered that I should be taken out. They
quickly blind folded me, raised me and it was like I fell asleep again.
And when I woke up, it was night already. I was bare feet. Everything
was gone. Looking homeless, scattered, shattered and battered. Extremely
weak.
So, I found myself in front of Loekka International Academy,
staggered to the road, sat on the walk ways trying to gather the
remaining strength I had. Stopped several bikes but since I looked
homeless, they just drove off immediately. I was able to stop one who
kept looking at me while I tried to mutter my house address. Well, I got
home safe, though extremely traumatized. After the horror movie that
kept playing in front me.
This is my story.
Lessons I Learnt From My Kidnap
1.) Know God for Yourself
I
am glad I know . It is the best decision I have ever made. Not just to
know God but know him personally. Who ever wrote those lines (…recieve
Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour…) wrote them by the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit because, personally, He’s my Lord and He
has saved me. I believe the prayers offered to God and my desire s too
were granted because I am related to God. (Where relationships are
established, things are achieved easily).
Just like Hezekiah, I
didn’t just turn my face against the wall, I was already with the wall
and presented my strong reasons. I put him into remembrance and praise
God, He did it. When you serve God, He will service you. Service to God
pays.
If you haven’t met him or know him on a personal level, my dear
its not too late. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the
day of salvation.2.) There’s Nothing Like Family
There
were times while growing up that I wished I grew up in another house
and was born in to another family. But trust me, the grass ain’t always
greener at the other side. I’m glad those wishes didn’t came to pass.
Aside
my parents and siblings, there are friends who have stood the test of
time and proven themselves as family because, trust me, family ain’t
always about blood. There are friends who are like the roots of a tree
in your life. They don’t always show themselves but they are there to
hold you up. I’m glad and grateful to God that I have such people in my
life.3.) Don’t Be Tragedy Driven
So
I heard of a man who felt really uneasy within himself and decided to
go and see a doctor. His blood samples were taken for tests but the
doctor advised he stay back till the results were out. Unfortunately, he
died the next day. His brother on the day of his burial was lamenting
how he hadn’t seen his late brother in a long while but since he didn’t
hear of anything wrong with him, he didn’t see the necessity to visit
him and kept procasting checking on him until he died.
What I’m
trying to say is this. Lets not be tragedy driven. We can’t say how long
we will be alive. Let’s not complicate life. If you miss someone, call
them. If you love someone, tell them. If you’re confused or heard
something about someone, communicate. Don’t wait until something goes
wrong with them. There are people who I haven’t seen nor heard from
since 2008, and because of my kidnap, they called, some even came over
to my house and I’m like, what if, just what if I died?? I wouldn’t know
they cared that much. Others calling to let me know just how much they
love me. If not for God’s intervention in my life, I wouldn’t know, and
they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to say all that.
Lets not be
tragedy driven. Yes, we all pray for long life but if God calls you home
the next minute I hope your loved ones would know just how much you
loved them . Lets not wait until something goes wrong before we show and
say just how much we love and care for eachother”.
360L
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