The Rector of Immaculate Conception Seminary in Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, Reverend Father Thomas Oyode, during an interview with The Vanguard correspondent, has narrated how he was abducted by kidnappers.
When he was asked if he interacted with his captors when he was abducted, he said that between Sunday, October 27th, and Thursday, October 31st, two of the kidnappers spoke pidgin English fluently. Although they were herdsmen, he said they conversed in pidgin like a typical Southerner or “Bendelite.” He noted that many memorable moments occurred during their conversations, though they could not be detailed in the interview due to space constraints. However, he planned to document his entire experience in a book once he had fully recovered. Some of the moments, he added, were humorous.
He recounted how one of the kidnappers re-assured him, saying, “Do not worry, your people will soon come for you. You will go home tomorrow by God’s grace.” Another, who led the way through the bush and forests, commented, “Oga, you are a good person! You begged them to release those two boys, and take you instead.”
Meanwhile, he also claimed that the kidnappers repeatedly taunted his pregnant sister, telling her to use her money to prepare for his funeral, saying, “God punish you, go and use the money for burial.” He claimed they told her this when they were negotiating ransom with her.
Further talking, he said, “They knew I was a Reverend Father but they never understood what it meant. Sometimes, they would call me ‘pastor’, other times they would call me ‘teacher’ or ‘oga.'”
“One night, one of the youngest among them who always enjoyed beating us, came to me, and asked me if I had a daughter. I felt he was in his heat. I simply answered, ‘no’ and I imagined that if there were a female in our midst, he would’ve thought of raping her.”