From Yakubu Busari, Jos
DSP Alubo speaking with journalists at the Police Force Headquarters in Jos
A brave woman, Miss Lucy Tapnan Jeremiah, has narrated how she wrestled with a gang of notorious kidnappers alone Abuja-Jos Road and set free some of the co-passengers on board a car.
Miss Lucy Tapnan Jeremiah, a resident of Abuja who was traveling to Mangu Local Government Council of Plateau State to attend a wedding and also celebrate the Christmas festivity with her family, explained that what happened on that faithful journey from Abuja-Jos Road was a horrific experience, but she chose to summon the courage to tackle the kidnappers, even if it meant dying in the struggle with them.
She spoke at the Nigeria Police Headquarters in Jos, the state capital, while the police spokesperson briefed journalists about the incident. The State Command of the police force said it had launched a manhunt for some members of the kidnapping syndicate who escaped, combing every look and cranny of the state in search of them.
According to Jeremiah, “I was in deep sleep as we were approached the Science School in Kuru, but the sudden stop of the bus forced me to wake up. Then the car had been ordered to stop by the kidnappers. I then open my eyes and beheld a man holding a gun standing in front of the car door and ordering everyone on board to come down and surrender his or her phone and cash.
“However, they selected four of us and led us into the forest, leaving the remaining three at scene.
Lucy Tapnan Jeremiah stated that she had to think fast during their long walk inside the bush when two of the victims started showing signs of tiredness.
“I can recall when they asked us to call our individual family members for N5 million ransom, the co-travellers warned me that they are holding weapons but that didn’t scare me.
“By then I had whispered to the other passengers that we should attack our captors and free ourselves from bondage, but they complained that the kidnappers were armed with dangerous weapons and so any attempt to do as I hinted would be suicidal. I then vowed that no matter what they were holding my God would protect me. I insisted on doing as I thought. I thought that if I held the one with the gun, the others should rush the one holding knife. At that point, I immediately rushed and grabbed the man with the AK47. He shouted and at that point the one with knife attacked me by aiming at my stomach. I dodged the attack, but the knife got my leg. Other victims had to join in the fight. That was how we were able to dislodge the gunmen and escape”.
Spokesperson of the, DSP Alfred Alubo confirmed the incident while briefing journalists on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.
He disclosed that at about 4 p.m, “when a desperate call came that some passengers were under attack by a kidnapping syndicate, our security personnel on patrol rush to the scene to crackdown on the gang.
Those rescued include ,Isamaila (M) from Borno state, Haruna (M ) Gombe and Miss Lucy Tapnan Jeremiah Plateau state. Jeremiah had deep cut legs where blood was by gushing out. We took her to Plateau Specialist Hospital where she currently receiving treatment.
According to him, security have been beefed up ahead of Christmas festivity with security personnel deployed across the state to ensure a hitch free celebration.
