By joshua 
Story by our Reporter
Going back two decades, the metamorphosing faces of insecurity in Nigerian, Black Africa’s most populous country, continue to bear down hard on her hapless citizens.
Along the lines, thousands have lost their lives in onslaughts by marauding Boko Haram Islamic insurgents particularly in the Northern states, and others who end up in the dens of kidnapping for ransom bandits or criminal gangs spread all over.
Some of the kidnap victims count themselves lucky if they come out of the ordeal with their life, in exchange for millions of Naira, while some do not live to tell the story.
A popular footballer and businessman Adewumi Femi Joshua, a resident of Lokoja, Kogi State, one of the organized criminal enclaves in North Central Nigeria, can count himself among the fortunate.
Fortunate or not, reports has it that he however remains on the run, over alleged threat to his life by elements behind his abduction.
Femi, along with one Oladipo Tolulope, a friend, according to Police Extract sighted by our correspondent, was attacked by some unknown gunmen, whisked into the bush around the Ajaokuta axis, where he was held for a month.
Not until a huge ransom of N30,000,000 exchanged hands did he regain his freedom.
His friend, Tolulope, did not survive the ordeal. He died in the hands of the kidnappers.
Before his whereabouts became a subject of conjecture, Femi had immediately after his release lodged a formal complaint of criminal intimidation with the Nigeria Police Force ‘C’ Division, in Lokoja, the state capital.
The report read: “Criminal Intimidation and threat to life: On 6/10/2021 about 1500HRs one Adewumi Femi Joshua ‘M’ of 28th Audu Crescent Gadumo, Lokoja, Kogi State, came to
‘C’ Division Police Station, Lokoja, and reported a case of threat to life. He stated that on 3/9/2021, while he was driving near Ajaokuta road, near a forest area, he and his friend Oladipo Tolulope suddenly heard a gunshot directed at his vehicle.
“As a result of fear he lost control of the vehicle and it ran into the bush due to the fear of being hit by bullet. He could not drive at high speed. He stated that when he eventually found what he thought was a safe place and parked, not knowing that the danger was still near, some unknown armed men attacked him and his friend.
“They were forcefully led into the bush, beaten severely and their clothes were torn as a result of the assault. He further stated that they were held captive in the bush for about one month while the kidnappers demanded a ransom of thirty million (N30,000,000.00). During their captivity, the ransom was not immediately met.
“He alleged that during this period, his friend Oladipo Tolulope was killed in his presence. After the death of his friend he was tied up and kept beside the corpse for three days while the kidnappers continue to wait for the ransom.
“Eventually, his sister Adebayo Funmilayo through friends and relatives was able to raise and pay the ransom after which he regained his freedom.
“He also stated that during the incident, he recognized one of the kidnappers, whom he claim to know that previously visited his sport shop at 200unit No.770 housing estate Lokoja, he later stated that he was released on the 5/10/2021. He added that before his release, the kidnappers threatened him that if he reports the incident to the police or any security agency, they will come after him and kill him.
“He stated that they have continued to cause him fear for his life, hence the report and recorded by ASP Salifu Sadiq.”
According to the report from the police as at the time of writing this report,a manhunt has been unleashed and has been sent out to get to the root of the incident.