They Asked My Mother to Sell Her House and Car” – Kidnap Surv!vor Recounts H0rrific Ordeal

“They Asked My Mother to Sell Her House and Car” – Kidnap Survivor Recounts Horrific Ordeal

..says the Emotional Torture Was Overwhelming”…
A Nigerian man who survived kidnapping and banditry has shared his harrowing experience, revealing the emotional trauma his family endured as kidnappers repeatedly increased their ransom demands during his captivity.
In a heartfelt account, the survivor described how what began as a demand for ₦15 million quickly escalated into a seemingly endless cycle of extortion.
According to him, his family initially paid the ₦15 million ransom requested by the kidnappers, alongside additional items worth more than ₦600,000. However, even after receiving the money and valuables, the criminals were not satisfied.
“They continued demanding more money and eventually asked for ₦55 million,” he recalled. “They even told my mother to sell her house and car to raise the money.”
The survivor explained that the kidnappers mistakenly assumed his family was wealthy after they used a rented vehicle to deliver the ransom and requested items. Believing the vehicle belonged to the family, the abductors became convinced that there were more assets to exploit.
“Because my family rented a vehicle to deliver the ransom, the kidnappers thought we owned it. They kept insisting that we sell all our properties and hand over the proceeds to them,” he said.
He described the experience as one of the darkest periods of his life, marked by fear, uncertainty, and emotional suffering.
“It was a terrible ordeal. The fear, pressure, and emotional torture were overwhelming. Watching my family struggle to meet their endless demands was heartbreaking,” he said.
The survivor also highlighted what he believes is a painful reality of Nigeria’s insecurity crisis: that criminals often target ordinary citizens who lack the security resources available to wealthy individuals and public figures.
“One painful reality is that they often target ordinary and struggling people because we are easier to capture than the elites, who usually have better security and protection,” he stated.
Using his story as a call to action, the survivor urged Nigerians not to remain silent in the face of growing insecurity. He stressed that kidnapping and banditry have devastated countless families, destroyed livelihoods, and left lasting psychological scars on victims and their loved ones.
“We need to raise our voices, stand together as a nation, and demand urgent action against insecurity. Today it may be someone else’s family. Tomorrow it could be yours. Enough is enough,” he said.
His account has resonated with many Nigerians online, reigniting conversations about the worsening security situation in parts of the country and the urgent need for stronger measures to combat kidnapping, banditry, and other violent crimes.
As insecurity continues to pose a major challenge across several regions, stories like his serve as a sobering reminder of the human cost behind the statistics and headlines.