From Molly Kilete, Abuja
A 55-year-old man arrested for kidnapping, armed robbery and illegal possession of prohibited firearms has narrated how his children introduced him into the activities of the underworld.
The suspect, Ibrahim Usman, a native of Song Local Government Area of Adamawa State, said that he decided to join his children in the criminal acts after they threatened to kill him.
Usman, who is currently in police custody said that he was into big-time farming and cattle rearing before he went into crime.
He also disclosed that he used to have a gun which he hired to criminals who pay him handsomely after every operations.
As a kidnapper, Usman said that he had taken part in only two operations and got N500,000, as part of his share.
The first time he followed his children for an operation, he disclosed that the relatives of the people they kidnapped paid a total of N1million as ransom while on the second operation they got N1.5million from which he got N200,000 and N300,000, respectively.
With the N500,000, he said that he bought four donkeys, which were later stolen by armed robbers.
Usman in this interview with Sunday Sun, told his story:
“My name is Usman Ibrahim. I am 45 years old and hail from Song Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
I used to be a farmer and cattle rearer until my children introduced me into kidnapping.
“My children are into kidnapping and making good money and asked me to join them. Some of their friends who are now on the run actually introduced them into the kidnapping business.
“Initially I was afraid to join them in the business when they asked me to, but I had to join them two years ago and started going out for operations with them.”
On how they operate, he disclosed that they go to a lonely place to mount a road block for unsuspecting travellers and force them to stop.
When the travellers stop, they will then kidnap everybody in the car and make them to call their family members to pay ransom.
“When the money is paid, they will then release the victims and give me my own share of the money.
“So far I have participated in only two kidnap operations.
“On my first operation with my children, we kidnapped some passengers and their relatives paid N1milion as ransom to get them released from our custody.
And on the second operation they paid N1.5 million as ransom to secure the people we kidnapped.
“I was given the sum of N200,000 as my own share of the money and on the second operation, I got N300,000.
“In all, I made N500,000. With the money I was able to buy four donkeys. I bought them for between N60,000 and N80,000. I bought the donkey to use them carry load, but some armed robbers who are stronger than me stole them from me.
“I also bought a gun for N400,000 out of the money I had saved. I bought the gun from a man whose identity I don’t know and one day when I went out, my elder brother’s son came and took the gun and I was not able to trace him to take back my gun before the police came and arrested me.
“I bought the gun to protect myself from fellow kidnappers and armed robbers. I was forced into the kidnapping business. I know it is a shameful thing, but my children threatened to kill me if I don’t join them and you know children of these days they can do anything because of the kind of things they take.
“Besides, I am the one who usually give them gun on hire so I was afraid of being killed, that’s why I joined them.
“And again, it was after the two operations that one of them came and stole the gun, that was in January. I have two wives with eight children.”
On how he was arrested, the suspect said: “I was arrested at Song by Logo area. Having been arrested I feel very ashamed and I am advising fathers like me not to allow their children turn them into criminals no matter the threat on their lives just like my children have lured me into armed robbery and kidnapping. I am only praying to God to see me through this ordeal and make them to change their criminal ways and embrace positive attitude.”
Why I did not advise my children before now
I did, but they would not listen. And I had also made up my mind to stop kidnapping before I was arrested.
The reason I bought the gun from the beginning was to protect myself from been attacked by armed robbers and kidnappers because they are plenty in our area and they go about attacking innocent people, but if they know you have a gun, they will stay away.