A 20-year-old Lagos-based artisan Ernest Uche has recounted his harrowing experience of being kidnapped, tortured, and robbed of over N250,000 after being taken to an uncompleted building in the Badagry area of the state during a work-related journey.
Uche, who specialises in basket weaving, said the incident occurred on 22nd August, 2025 while delivering an order to a customer.
He said after completing the delivery, he was waiting for a motorcycle to return home when a group of young men accosted him, stole his mobile phone and dragged him to an uncompleted building.
“They beat me, took my phone, and forced me to transfer N150,000. They also withdrew another N20,000 that had just been sent to me by a customer. They stripped me naked, blindfolded me, and filmed me with threats to post the video online. One of them was dressed in a soldier’s uniform.”
Uche said the kidnappers instructed him to lie to his mother, claiming he had boarded the wrong bus. They later used his phone to contact his family, demanding a ransom of N4 million.
Uche’s mother, Mrs. Amaka, told LEADERSHIP that she fainted when she heard the threat, saying, “They told me they had sent a photo of my son. I didn’t see it, but my daughter did and started crying. It was his naked picture.”
According to her, the family’s attempt to report the incident to the police was met with frustration. Officers at the Anthony Police Station declined to take the reports, claiming it was outside their jurisdiction. They advised them to go to Ikeja.
Uche’s sister, Imelda, described the ordeal of raising the ransom and claimed they had reported the incident to the police.
“All I wanted was my brother’s safety. We didn’t have N4 million. I managed to raise N100,000, then another N50,000, and finally N10,000.
We relied on prayers for his safe return.
“The family is happy that Uche is back home and safe. We had run a check on him at the hospital, and they confirmed he is okay.
Imelda added that their grandmother in the village mobilised the local community to pray for Uche’s release, saying, “It was traumatising. This was our first experience with kidnapping, and it has left a deep scar on our family.’’
