By our reporter/ Niger state information commissioner, Muhammad Idris who regained freedom from bandits has said he would have resigned if the government had paid ransom to secure his release.
The commissioner who spent five days with the bandits following his abduction last weekend stated this while speaking to journalists at his Minna residence.
While narrating his ordeal in the hands of the bandits, he said that he had committed everything to God and resolved that a ransom will not be paid.
He appreciated the Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello for maintaining the policy of non-ransom payment to bandits.
According to him, his release was as the result of prayers, adding that he remained resolute and could not be broken down by the bandits and eventually, after a lengthy discussion with the bandits, he was set free.
He said that he was happy to be reunited with his family and that he was happy to be a cabinet member of the state especially with the love he has received.
Also speaking during a TVC programme on Friday, Idris further described his experience with the abductors as “dehumanising and humiliating”, revealing he spent 48 hours under the rain, with his hands and legs tied.
“We thank God for everything, but it is not an experience that I will pray for even my worst enemy. It was dehumanising; it was humiliating; it was degrading — just name it. But we thank God for scaling through,” he said.
“They took me to a no man’s land, in the middle of nowhere and I was there exposed to the rains for 48 hours with neither food nor water given to me, with my hands and legs tied just to break me. But in the long run, God was there for me and I was able to remain focused and I was able to remain sane. We thank God for that favour.
“They explained to me that they see my own as a high profile kidnap and they planned it very well. They came with their team from everywhere to ensure that they succeed.”
Idris, who described his release as a miracle, said no money was paid to secure his freedom.
“I was not rescued and I didn’t pay any ransom. Nobody paid any ransom. It was just miraculous. When they started, they were very hard on me. They pushed me to a limit that you will never expect a human being to still be resilient,” the commissioner said.
“But I give God the glory. Even when they were beating me, I was talking to them that they should have a rethink about this thing they are doing. They think that this thing they are doing is welcomed, and it is favoured in the sight of Allah, in the sight of humanity.
“Instead of breaking me, I started breaking them. They gave me bread; they started giving me water. They untied me and they began to show concern. Even when we were exposed to the rains, in the night, they will sleep in the rain and then they will allow me to use a tarpaulin to cover myself.
“In the long run, I believe it was a miracle. God touched their hearts and they felt I should just go to my family.”
The commissioner was seen with his daughter who he said witnessed the incident and the brutality on him before he was whisked away.
The commissioner’s son, Faisal Idris, said the family was happy that their father has been reunited with them and credited God for the release.
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