15th May, 2015
Cyriacus Izuekwe
A 19-year old female undergraduate of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka in Anambra State, southeast Nigeria, who was kidnapped has been released after 21 days in captivity.
The victim, identified as Charity Ewulum left her home at Ejigbo in Lagos to her school in Awka and ended up in the hands of her captors for three weeks until ransom was paid before she regained her freedom.
She was released recently after her parents allegedly paid undisclosed amount as ransom for her released.
Despite the payment of the ransom, her parents and members of their family are grateful to God that she was released unhurt.
To show their appreciation to God, they offered thanksgiving and celebrated her release at St Peters Catholic Church, Ejigbo where residents, friends and well wishers across the state joined them to celebrate.
Narrating what happened at the church, the victim’s mother, Mrs Cecilia Ewulum told the congregation that her daughter was kidnapped within university campus in Awka and took her into a bush in Owerri area of Imo State.
She said that the victim was chained in both legs and was forced to contact her parents for ransom.
She added that when it appeared that they were not co-operating wth the kidnappers, they threatened to kill Charity.
Narrating their odeal, she said throughout the period her daughter was in captivity, it was a very low moment for the family, adding that were praying hoping that God would intervene.
Mrs Ewulum said the negotiation continued until they finally released her at the weekend.
Narrating what happened, the victim said she left Lagos to Awka in Anambra State to return to school.
She said she boarded a taxi to school along Enugu-Onitsha expressway but unknown to her, the passengers in the taxi were kidnappers who pointed gun at her, tied her face and took her into a bush.
Charity said it was while in the bush that they established contact with her parents and demanded ransom.
She said throughout the period she was in captivity, her abductors were feeding her and she had no choice than to eat the food to survive.
She said it was when the kidnappers settled with her parents that she was released and dumped on the road side which she later discovered was Owerri in Imo state.