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  • Ex-minister urges preservation of Igbo traditions as Enugu community celebrates new yam festival 

    Ex-minister urges preservation of Igbo traditions as Enugu community celebrates new yam festival 

    Former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, has urged Nigerians to strike a balance between preserving cultural heritage and embracing modern realities, noting that some of the world’s most progressive nations thrive because they uphold their traditions.

    He made the remarks at the annual New Yam Festival of the Edeaniagu clan in Ishi-Ozalla Autonomous Community, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, held over the weekend.

    The event drew traditional rulers from across Nkanu land, indigenes of all 12 villages of the community, as well as distinguished guests.

    Prof. Nnaji cited Japan as an example of a society that remains highly advanced while staying firmly rooted in its cultural heritage.

    “If you go to Japan, there are whole cities like Kyoto where shrines are preserved, not to harm anyone, but to remind people of their identity and values,. 

    “We should not discard our rich traditions just because outsiders said ours were not good. As we grow, we must preserve the aspects of our culture that strengthen our psyche and identity,” he said.

    The traditional ruler of the Edeaniagu clan, HRH Chief Don Sylvester Chinedu Nweke, described the festival as a harvest thanksgiving to God and the ancestors. 

    He expressed delight at the massive turnout and lamented the neglect of his community, particularly the deplorable state of roads, which he attributed to divisive politics and unpatriotic elites.

    “We have billionaires and prominent sons and daughters, but some of them have refused to work for the good of our people. Even government has played divisive politics against us,” Igwe Nweke said. 

    He recalled how the community endured years of leadership crisis before he was crowned, noting that despite challenges, he had undertaken several self-help projects, including a mini-stadium, boreholes, and public toilets.

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    The monarch, who also restored electricity to the community two years ago, appealed to Governor Peter Mbah to remember Edeaniagu in his development plans. 

    “I dwell among my people, not in the government house. My people chose me, and that is why I serve them,” he added.

    A daughter of the community and scholar, Prof. Munachim Nweke-Okoye, who enrolled dozens of Edeaniagu youths in her scholarship programme, described the New Yam Festival as both a thanksgiving and a covenant with the soil.

    She recalled stories of her forebears, who cultivated not just farmlands but also generosity and protection of the vulnerable. 

    “The Feast of the Soil reminds us that every seed of goodwill returns in seasons of peace and plenty,” she said, urging the community to uphold values of unity, justice, and sustainability.

    The festival was marked with cultural displays of masquerades, communal feasting, and reaffirmation of solidarity, even as residents renewed calls for infrastructural development, particularly good roads.

  • Yam Festival: Celebrating Ndigbo’s day of colour, love

    The Igbo rich cultural heritage was on display on Saturday, when the Igbo community in Lagos celebrated this year’s New Yam Festival. CHINAKA OKORO was there.

    For several hours last Saturday, guests from far and near joined Ndigbo in Lagos to celebrate this year’s New Yam Festival. Lagos State Igbo Community Centre, Okota, Lagos venue of the event, was literally shut down for the huge crowd.

    There was heavy drumming, singing, trumpeting and breath-taking dance steps by various cultural dancers who thrilled guests who had seated before the arrival of the dignitaries.

    It was all glamour and show of opulence, as an estimated crowd of 6,000 that included members of Ndigbo in Lagos, friends, well-wishers and some prominent indigenes of Lagos, participated in the celebration of the pristine and long-standing cultural carnival for which the Igbo are known.

    As early as noon on that day, the spacious precincts of the centre where Eze  Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu holds sway had begun to witness massive influx of spectators. The centre was built primarily for the festival.

    The roomy place was largely suffused with beautifully coloured masquerades and traditional dancers who entertained the people. Gaily dressed Igbo women known for their panache and active social lifestyle were a marvel to behold. The men equally in their beautiful Igbo attire swirled to the suiting rhythm of drums and other musical instruments in that somewhat balmy afternoon. It was a gathering of who is who in Igbo land.

    The celebrator, Eze Nwachukwu said: “The Igbo cultural festival is a day set aside by the Igbo in Lagos to observe one of their great festivals for which they are known. The celebration of new yam is one of the traditional ethoses handed down to us by our forefathers. Wherever the Igbo are found, they regard it as a cultural duty and responsibility to observe this pristine age long festival. This is so because, among the farm crops, the yam is regarded as the king. The Igbo in Lagos have been celebrating the new yam for some years now.

    “The Igbo are very industrious and peaceful. That informs their active participation in the development drives of their host communities. This assertion is made manifest in the actions and activities of Ndigbo who live in Lagos.

    “They believe that Lagos is their home and therefore should be part of the development of the state as committed stakeholders. They are peace-loving and law-abiding.”

    He thanked the government and people of Lagos State for being good hosts. He thanked Governor Akinwunmi Ambode who, he said, is a great lover of Ndigbo, even as he thanked him for the completion of the Ago-Nachukwu Drive-Okota Link Road. He also appreciated the wife of the governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode for her motherly role towards the Igbo in Lagos.

    Eze Nwachukwu also expressed his gratitude to former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, for his contributions towards the peaceful co-existence among the diverse ethnic nationalities in Lagos State.

    “We are eternally grateful to Chairman of Isolo Local Council Development Area, Hon. Samshudeen Olaleye, former Commissioner of Works and House of Representatives aspirant, Hon. Ganiyu Johnson and member representing Oshodi/Isolo State Constituency 11 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu for facilitating the reconstruction of the road.

    “We, the Igbo in Lagos, pledge to continue to be law-abiding and committed to peace and development of the state.”

    On the significance of the day and the place of yam in Igbo culture and tradition, the chairman on the occasion, Mazi Nnabuihe, Chigozie Bright went down memory lane on how the festival began.

    Mazi Nnabuihe, who is a Professor of Linguistics, African and Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts University of Lagos (UNILAG), said: “God created people and gave them special peculiarities. God that created the Igbo gave them the wisdom to organise socio-cultural advancement of the East. The Igbo were the first to lay the socio-cultural foundation in Africa.

    “It is unfortunate that the cultures and traditions of the Igbo that are so populous in Africa are becoming extinct. It is regrettable that one is alive but one’s cultural ethos is on its last legs. We are here to celebrate one of the greatest cultural festivals in Igbo land which is the new yam. You identify a people by the culture, tradition and language.

    “An old Igbo myth records that during a severe famine, Igbo (from whom the tribe takes its name) was told that he must sacrifice his son, Ahiajoku, and his daughter, Ada, in order to save his other children. He was instructed not to eat from their flesh but to bury them in different parts of the land. Obeying the instruction, he sacrificed his first son (Opara) and his first daughter (Ada).

    “After they were sacrificed or killed, their flesh was cut into pieces and buried in different mounds. A few days later, yams sprouted from the flesh of Ahiajoku, while coco yams sprouted from the flesh of Ada. Igbo and his other children survived the famine by eating them. Since then, the spirit of Ahiajoku became the god of yam. In the circumstances, whatever an Igbo man does, if he hasn’t planted yams, he is not regarded as a mature Igbo. In the same manner, whatever an Igbo woman does without planting cocoyam, she is not regarded as fully-fledged woman.

    This could be why any Igbo man names his loved son Njoku and names the loved daughter Mmaji.

    The myth of Ahiajoku is re-enacted during the New Yam Festival each year.”

    Congratulating the Igbo community in Lagos on their New Yam Festival, Mrs Ambode said she would always identify with the Igbo because of their industry.

    Represented by Mrs Cecilia Oyindamola Dada, Mrs Ambode said the celebration of new yam festival by the Igbo in Lagos indicated that the Igbo are rooted in the culture and tradition of society.

    She noted that the Igbo exhibit the spirit of oneness and unity of Nigeria by making anywhere they find themselves their homes and contribute immensely to the socio-economic and political development of their host communities. She enjoined every Nigerian to imbibe the spirit of unity for peace and harmony of our country.

    This, she said, would engender the much-needed united Nigeria in which everywhere is home for all despite where one comes from

    In his goodwill message, Lagos State APC governorship candidate Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu congratulated Ndigbo on their cultural day. He  added that the Igbo are always committed to keeping alive the mores of their land.

    Represented by the Director-General ofBabajide Sanwo-Olu Campaign Organisation (BOSCO), Mr Tayo Ayinde, Sanwo-Olu noted: “The Igbo he knows are very industrious and accommodating. They believe that everywhere is home. That is why they are seen in every part of the world doing their legitimate businesses. The Igbo have the spirit of developing any environment, whether in core Igbo land or outside it.

    “The spirit of advancement and progress in an average Igbo man makes him growth agent. He takes pleasure in mingling with people of other ethnic groups and nationalities. Again, their resourcefulness is a plus.

    “I identify with them and would urge them to work assiduously to support the APC administration in Lagos State. When we become successful in our political goals, we will all be beneficiaries, as our administration will give opportunities to other ethnic nationalities, especially the Igbo to serve the state in various levels of government, even as cabinet members.”

    Ayinde was honoured with the traditional title of Dikedinamba of Ndigbo.

    Also, Idimogu said Lagos, for Ndigbo could be likened to Johanesburg in South Africa and Cairo in Egypt. Describing Lagos as mini-Nigeria and the economic hub of West Africa, he said: “The state is well known for social, economic and political greatness. Its benevolence, friendship and reception of those who are not indigenous to the state are matchlessly supreme. Lagos is a land of great opportunities.

    “The Igbo have been received with open hands to carry out their legitimate businesses. Apart from the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos, the state provides the best opportunity for Ndigbo to pursue their genuine businesses. The Igbo have been making the best out of these opportunities provided by Lagos State.

    “Many Igbo people have excelled in the state…Lagos is the safest state for Ndigbo. Therefore, in the spirit of where one lives one protects, it is incumbent on the Igbo in Lagos to reciprocate these gestures.

    “We are in an election period. We need to protect the interest of the party in power by coming out en masse to vote for the APC in the state. By so doing, our collective interests will be protected. Ndigbo resident in Lagos should support APC and all it represents.”

    High point of the event was the cutting and eating of tubers of roast yam by participants.

    Dignitaries present at the colourful event were Eze Ndigbo of IbejuLekki, Chris Offia (KSM); Eze Ndigbo of Isolo LCDA and Chairman Ndieze Udo Lagos State, Ikem W. Agbasi; Eze Ndigbo of Ojo LGA and Deputy Chairman Council of EzeNdigbo Lagos State, Ezeoha Pat Eneh; Prof. Nnabuihe Chigozie Bright of University of Lagos; President Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State, High Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene; Deputy President Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State Chief Vitus C. Uzoh; EzeNdigbo of Ikorodu Kingdom Apostle Paulicap C. Uhuegbu, Founder/President Adorable Foundation International Princess Ada Okeke Amam; Mr Tony Onye, lawyer; UPP Lagos West Senatorial candidate Hon. Nkem Mordi; member Lagos State executive of the APC and Secretary Ethnic Affairs BOSCO Barrister Obiageli Onu; Hon. Tony Ofoegbu; Pastor Ndubuisi Ochiabuto and first President Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State, Chief John Uche, among others.

     

     

  • Sumptuous culture at Igbo yam festival

    Sumptuous culture at Igbo yam festival

    Every year, the Nwachukwu Drive in Okota Isolo Local Council Development Area, witnesses cultural activities as the Igbo in Lagos gather to celebrate the new yam festival. This year, the ceremony held on Saturday at Lagos State Igbo Community Centre, Nwachukwu Drive, Okota Lagos.

    As early as 12  noon that day, guests had begun to throng the flamboyantly decorated and roomy Igbo centre.

    There were heavy drumming, singing, trumpeting and breath-taking dance steps by various cultural dancers who thrilled the guests who had seated before the arrival of important dignitaries invited for the occasion.

    It was all glamour and show of opulence, as an estimated crowd of 7,000 that included Ndigbo in Lagos, representative of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, representative of wife of Lagos State Governor, representatives of the Oba of Lagos, members of Lagos State House of Assembly, several traditional rulers, All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts, captains of industry, transport associations, friends and well-wishers participated in the celebration of the pristine and long-standing cultural carnival for which the Igbo are known.

    The weather was clement as the sun shone brightly out of the azure sky. The spacious centre was largely suffused with beautifully coloured masquerades and traditional dancers who entertained the people. Gaily dressed Igbo women known for their panache and active social lifestyle were a marvel to behold. The men equally in their beautiful Isiagu attire swirled to the suiting rhythm of drums and other musical instruments in that somewhat balmy afternoon. It was a gathering of who is who in Igbo land and Lagos State.

    The fiesta was also a platform for the recognition of some Igbo who had distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour and others who are not indigenous to Igbo such as Governor Ambode and his wife Bolanle, who the Igbo Community in Lagos unanimously recognised as good father and mother of Ndigbo resident in Lagos and Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly who was recognised as friend of Ndigbo in Lagos State, among others.

    In his speech, Eze Nwachukwu explained that Ndigbo in Lagos celebrate the new yam festival to enable those who could not travel to the East to participate in the fiesta at home, even as he added that the aim was to encourage the young ones to be abreast of some of the cultural heritages of the Igbo.

    He noted that yam is regarded as the king of crops in Igbo land and used to serve as status symbol for men who had attained success.

    He praised Ambode for the good works he is doing for the masses, even as he urged him to listen to the cries of Ndigbo for inclusion in governance. He pleaded with him to fix the road that transverse his palace, the Nwachukwu Drive

    “It is not only yam that is harvested; any profession one is in and is progressing, such a one is harvesting the blessings of God,” he said.

    In his message to the Igbo community, Governor Ambode praised Ndigbo for recognising culture as one of the factors that keep the society intact. He said any society without culture is dead.

    “I congratulate Ndigbo on the celebration of their new yam festival which is one of the most significant cultural events in Igbo land. The event provides the Igbo man the opportunity to thank God for bumper harvest in yam and other farm varieties. I also praise you for being peace-loving people,” he said.

    Represented by a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Jude Idimogu, Ambode said he was happy with the Igbo for being supportive in his administration’s strive to make life better for residents. He promised to build a pedestrian bridge at Ladipo to save lives of traders. He also promised that Nwachukwu Drive in Okota will be among the next 114 roads to be constructed.

    Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode who was represented by Chief (Mrs.) Roseline Idimogu congratulated Ndigbo on the celebration of this year’s yam festival.

    She said: “The new yam festival remains one of the most popular and best celebrated annual socio-cultural events of the Igbo. The festival is deeply rooted in Igbo tradition which has since metamorphosed into political, social and cultural festivals where issues concerning the well-being of the people are discussed. The event is a unifying factor for all Igbo in Lagos State.

    “I very much congratulate the Igbo Community in Lagos on the success of this year’s new yam festival.”

    The leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike urged Ndigbo to be peace-loving and to respect the laws of the host state.

    “I salute all Igbo in Lagos for being at peace with the host communities. With the current economic situation in Nigeria, Ndigbo must be conscious of developing their homeland. Time has gone when Ndigbo invest all they had outside Igbo land. If you build one house in Lagos, build two at home. Be law-abiding as nobody can seize your investment from you,” he said.

    He praised Governor Ambode for his people-oriented policies and programmes and his accommodating spirit for Ndigbo, adding that Ndigbo in Lagos are behind him. He pleaded with him to fix Nwachukwu Drive which is in bad shape.

    While praising the Igbo for the success of this year’s yam festival, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu who was represented by the Ojon of Lagos, High Chief Oloye Nurudeen Olobiyi Agoro and Chief Suene of Lagos said: “We know that the Igbo are decent and hardworking people. The people of Lagos State have mutual respect for each of them. Lagos is a peaceful place. We should also have mutual respect for the owners of the land. We love you and cannot do without one another. I assure you that before the end of next year, Nwachukwu Drive will be constructed.”

    In his remark, the Publicity Secretary of the APC in Lagos, Mr. Joe Igbokwe thanked Eze Nwachukwu for bringing Ndigbo in Lagos together every year to celebrate the new yam festival. He promised that by next edition of the festival, the road will be fixed.

  • Ekiti community aglow at Yam Festival

    Ekiti community aglow at Yam Festival

    The cultural heritage of Ikere Ekiti was on display as the people of the community joined their monarch, the Ogoga, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu Alagbado, to celebrate this year’s New Yam Festival known locally as Odun Ijesu. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.

    Ikere Ekiti, a town which prides itself as the gateway to Ekiti land celebrated this year’s New Yam Festival with pomp and ceremony. It was the first to be celebrated since the new Ogoga, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu Alagbado, Agirilala Ogbenuotesoro II ascended the throne.

    Since time the ancient time, the festival known in local parlance as Odun Ijesu had been celebrated but this year’s edition was taken to a higher pedestal as it was marked elaborately.

    Oba Adu and his subjects had every reason to roll out the drums because his reign has witnessed the construction of a modern palace built by the Ogoga himself, an administrative building and the new palace gate.

    Apart from the new yams rolled out at the festival which was a harbinger of agricultural fecundity of the community, the monarch, his chiefs and other residents, turned the event into a carnival.

    The Ogoga wore a highly embroidered Aso Oke and a gleaming white crown. He sat regally on his throne placed at the entrance of the main palace building with his wife, Olori Olufunmilola Ololade sitting in front of him.

    •Some crowns worn by the Ogoga on display at the event.
    •Some crowns worn by the Ogoga on display at the event.

    The various crowns worn by the Ogoga were displayed at the festival and guests and indigenes alike admired them.

    Crowd control became taxing at the event as the security men and women deployed to the palace were seemingly overwhelmed by the huge crowd that attended the event.

    The major feature of the ceremony was the homage paid by the traditional chiefs led by the iwarefas, the oloris (palace queens), the ibedos (age grade groups), traditional hunters, iyalojas, iyalajes (market women), the Oyopejus (Ikere indigenes who have their roots in Oyo) and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in the community.

    The oloris, who decorated themselves with royal beads, stole the show with their dexterous dance steps to which the Ogoga applauded. Their performance also drew a thunderous applause from the crowd.

    Non-indigenes including the Ebira, Igbo, Urhobo and Idoma who had taken up residency and earn their livelihood in Ikere took their turns to pay homage to the Ogoga who waved his irukere (horsetail) to acknowledge their reverence.

    Dignitaries at the festival were led by Governor Ayo Fayose who was represented by the Deputy Governor Dr. Kolapo Olusola who is an indigene. deputy governor’s wife, Mrs. Janet Olusola; Chairman, Ikere Local Government Area, Ola Alonge; member representing Ikere Constituency 1 in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Wale Ayeni; House of Assembly member representing Ikere Constituency 11, Sunday Akinniyi; Provost, College of Education, Ikere, Dr. Mojisola Oyarekua; Deputy Provost, Dr. Olu Atunramu and Registrar, Gbenga Ojo.

    The dignitaries including the deputy governor, the council chairman and the two Assembly members also took turns to pay homage to the Ogoga.

    One of the local hunters who paid homage to the king said: “This Kabiyesi is a harbinger of good things in Ikere. He should be celebrated by all his subjects.” The hunters’ homage ended with a staccato of gun shots.

    Delivering the welcome address, the Odolofin of Ikere, Chief James Ayodele Alonge, said the festival was aimed at fostering unity and love among Ikere indigenes and other residents; saying the festival “is in no way connected with idol worshipping.”

    He said: “This is our culture; it is in no way connected with idol worshipping which scares our Christian brothers and sisters. It is used to thank God that a little piece of yam that was put in the soil became a big yam ready for eating.

    “A new dawn is here, what the architect of modern Ikere, Agirilala did is now manifesting in his son, Agirilala II. He is the paramount ruler and prescribed authority of this kingdom.

    “All of us must co-operate with this progressive Oba to make Ikere take its pride of place in Ekiti land. New Yam festival is done in nearly all locations in Ekiti State. A little piece of yam that was planted by people and watered by God became big.”

    Delivering his speech, the Ogoga, Oba Adu who described the Ikere people as ariremako (people who don’t reject good things), expressed gratitude to his subjects for their co-operation since he mounted the ancient throne.

    •Cross-section of Ikere traditional chiefs at the event.
    •Cross-section of Ikere traditional chiefs at the event.

    The traditional ruler said the development witnessed in the town in the last one year of his reign was made possible by peace enjoyed by all. He urged them to always live in harmony to facilitate more development.

    The Ogoga said: “By this time last year, we celebrated Odun Ijesu and God has given us another opportunity to celebrate this year’s edition.

    “I acknowledge the unflinching support of the governor and his deputy. I also want to thank all the chiefs for their support and co-operation which has made us to achieve what we have achieved so far.

    “I thank all sons and daughters of Ikere; I appreciate your support and prayers. Let us join hands together to lift Ikere to greater heights because we don’t have another town we can call our own.

    “We have a lot of projects at hand; our city hall and roads are there and by the grace of God we must accomplish them. I also want to appeal to you all that we should support our council chairman to execute these projects.

    “Let us love one another, let us support one another because we are all brothers and sisters. Development of Ikere is our common project which we must pursue with all vigour because we don’t have another place other than Ikere.”

    Going down memory lane during an interaction with reporters after the programme, the Odolofin, Chief Alonge revealed that Ikere was founded in the 11th Century and had evolved to a big melting pot of people from various backgrounds within and outside Ekiti State.

    He said: “Ikere came into existence in the 11th Century and at a stage, we had a legend called Olosunta and we were worshiping him because he came into this town but was later betrayed and driven out of the town.

    “The wrong done to him brought about epidemic and the Ifa Oracle instructed us to appease him every year. After the appeasement was done, there was rain and all the crops planted flourished and bountiful harvest was recorded.

    “The New Yam Festival is one of the ways we celebrated the fertility of our land and to appreciate God for blessing our efforts in the last planting season.

    “So, our message to the people of Ikere is to join hands with the Agirilala II to develop this town. We have begun to see progress in this town; our Oba must be encouraged by others to key in to his dream for the development of our community.”

  • Ekiti community celebrates new yam festival

    Ahun community in Efon Local Government Area of Ekiti State has marked this year’s Odun Ijesu (New Yam Festival), bringing together sons and daughters of the town.

    The event, which held at the palace of Alahun (Chief) of Ahun in Efon, marked the traditional cleansing of the new yam to sanctify it for consumption.

    The monarch of the town, Oba Jacob Adelowo, said: “Until after celebrations this night, no Ahun indigenes wherever they are can ever eat yam and oil”

    He urged the state government to consider making Oke Ahun community one of the tourist attractions in the state, such as the Ojubo Oodua and Olutokin shrine.

  • How pastor, Briton, council chair were kidnapped

    •Two suspects held

    The police in Lagos State have arrested two suspected kidnappers. They are suspected members of a gang that abducted a woman pastor and a Briton.

    The suspects were apprehended after the woman escaped from their uncompleted building hideout.

    Police sources told The Nation that the gang repeatedly raped their victim after kidnapping her.

    It was learnt that on the day she escaped, the gang went on an operation and left her in the care of a member.

    Sources said the woman ran out of the hideout after she pushed away her guard, who attempted to rape her again.

    It was gathered that the man’s head hit the wall and it took him some time to recover.

    When the guard realised that the woman had escaped, he reportedly ran away to avoid the gang leader’s wrath, leaving the Briton unguarded.

    It was learnt that residents gave the woman some clothes and took her and the Briton to Area N Police Command.

    Residents said they did not know that the uncompleted building was a kidnappers’ den.

    Other members of the gang, including their leader, simply identified as Sam, are still at large.

    Narrating how he became a member of the gang, one of the suspects, simply identified as Emeka, said he was a trader. He said he used to travel to Cotonou in Benin Republic to buy fairly-used clothes, adding that life became tough for him after Customs officers seized his goods.

    A police source said: “Emeka said after Customs officers seized his goods, his business collapsed. He said during Christmas and the New Yam festival, he used to go to his village with his friends to display his wealth, but all that stopped.

    “Emeka said he went to the village last December and saw Sam, who he had once assisted financially. He said he told Sam about his problems and Sam gave him N21,000. He said Sam told him to call him when he gets to Lagos.

    “As soon as he got to Lagos, he said he called Sam and they agreed to meet at a certain hotel, where he met four other men. Emeka said Sam told him to excuse them and he (Sam) discussed with the men for sometime.

    “After the meeting, Sam and Emeka drove to his house in Ajao Estate. At night, Emeka said Sam woke him up and told him that he and the four men he (Emeka) saw at the hotel were professional kidnappers.

    “He said Sam told him they do not kill, but threaten their victims. He said Sam told him that his uncompleted building in the village was being financed by money gotten from kidnapping. He said Sam told him he would soon become rich again, if he joined them.

    “He said Sam told him to meet him on a Saturday at a hotel on the international airport road, but because it was raining, he waited for him under a bridge. He said Sam and four others in his vehicle picked him up and they went to Ajah.

    “He said Sam was driving and repeatedly kept making phone calls. After one of the calls, Emeka said Sam became angry, but did not say why. He said the phone rang again, but Sam refused to pick it. He said a vehicle overtook theirs and Sam said confirmed. He said Sam overtook the vehicle and on sighting armed men, the driver jumped out and ran away. “Investigations revealed that the driver, Jude Muyiwa, planned the kidnap of his boss, a local government chairman. When the driver abandoned his boss, some of the kidnappers took over the car while Emeka and Sam remained in the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) the gang came with. The SUV followed the Black Toyota Yaris, which the gang had snatched, along with its occupant.

    “They drove for about an hour until they got to an uncompleted building at Ogijo where the victim was stripped naked. The gang members knew their victim was a local government chairman, but Emeka said he found out when they reached the uncompleted building. The kidnappers used the victim’s phone to contact his family and demanded ransom.

    “One of the kidnappers, who spoke Hausa fluently, identified as Innocent, was the one communicating with the family. After four days of negotiations, the chairman was dropped off at a filling station close to Onipanu.

    “Later, Sam told Emeka that they collected N5 million ransom from the victim’s family. Emeka collected N500,000 as his share. Emeka said after that deal, there was nothing for almost two weeks.

    “The third week, Sam called Emeka, explaining that there was another operation. This time, they kidnapped a Briton, who worked with Chevron, and kept him at the uncompleted building. While negotiation was ongoing for the Briton’s release, the gang kidnapped the woman pastor. They contacted her husband and demanded N20 million.

    “Later, Sam raped the woman, followed by Innocent and Emeka. She was kept permanently naked, to allow them easy access to rape her anytime they wanted. Initially, the gang demanded N50 million as ransom for the Briton, but settled for N25 million.”

    Emeka said: “The woman used to cry every day. She also used to pray continuously and I felt sorry for her.”