Staff Writer
Efe Agbeyiwa, a 29-year-old laundry worker, tells TEMITOPE ADETUNJI how her mother passed away the day after her father was abducted and how the incident is impacting the family.
How did your mother pass away and your father get kidnapped, as you claimed in a post?
My dad once got a call from a stranger asking him to come over for a business transaction. When he arrived, he discovered that it had been a call to trick him into being abducted.
What time did he get the call?
On January 12th, my father got the call.
How did you feel about everything in general?
Since this had never happened in my family before, I was horrified and inconsolable. I was concerned since we didn’t get any calls until the third day, and I wasn’t sure if it was just a kidnapping or an assassination.
What was the call about that you mentioned you got on the third day?
When the kidnappers called, they threatened to kill my father unless we paid them $20 million.
You paid the ransom, right?
We begged them to lower the fee because we were strapped for cash and my mother had already passed away when my dad was abducted. Because we didn’t want to lose both of our parents, we ultimately paid the ransom. Finally, N5 million was collected.
What method did you use to raise the funds?
Please be aware that I am unable to disclose all the specifics of the kidnapping. When we went to deliver the ransom, they threatened to come after us if we told the police what had transpired and what we had seen. In the lawless town of Sapele, kidnapping is a common occurrence. There are rumors that it is being carried out by some security personnel. Security personnel have never managed to capture anyone.
How long did your father spend in captivity before being freed?
Three days after my dad’s abductors first made touch with him after his week-long disappearance, perhaps they learned that my mother had passed away from shock.
When did your mother pass away?
On January 13, 2023, she passed away. Due to the unfortunate event, my mother passed away while attending to my brother’s wife who had just given birth in the hospital. They had just arrived home from the hospital the day they were released when our neighbors called to say that my dad had been abducted. Because the phone was on speaker, my mother heard it. She was behaving normally; that evening, she even made a prayer request for my dad’s release at the church.
When she returned from church and was having a conversation about it with several family members and friends, her condition abruptly deteriorated. She was restless, so those nearby assisted her in lying down on the ground. She expired in less than ten minutes. We mistook her snoring for sleep because she had her lips open. When my sister called, my mother didn’t pick up the phone. We realized she was dead at that point. That evening, we hurried her to three separate hospitals so that she might receive oxygen. But when the physicians arrived, they pronounced her dead. It was horrible for me to watch my mother die right in front of me.
What response did your mother’s family and friends have when they learned of her passing?
Everyone was shocked to learn this because my mother was in good health and full of life. Nobody anticipated that she would pass away from the news’ shock. They kept asking how it happened since they didn’t believe it.
Have you got any siblings?
I do have five siblings, yes. My siblings were extremely distraught and scrambled to get the funds for the ransom. Finally, we had to borrow.
In the family, what position do you hold?
I’m the third of six kids—four boys and five girls.
How are you managing?
Life without a mother is never simple, therefore it hasn’t been easy. My mother was everything to me, so I’ve never thought about what it would be like to live without her. She looked after us constantly. She claimed that we were her only siblings and treated us as such. Living without her is incredibly difficult. I have been unable to recover from my shock. Because of my sadness, I spent a month and a half in bed and spent several weeks in the hospital. In the past, I took antidepressants. That’s how I’ve managed thus far. I have to take medication every day just to eat. God ought to stop stealing women’s mothers. We require them.
Has your dad been let go?
Yes, once a ransom was paid and seven days had passed, he was freed.
Do you believe that anyone is involved in the matter?
I have no idea, but if someone is involved, I fervently hope that they will be found out because the suffering they inflicted on my family will never go away. They will never experience tranquility for the rest of their life, I curse them all.
Did you ever experience depression as a result of this problem?
Nobody will ever lose a loved one and carry on as usual. She has never abandoned us; this is my mother. She withstood everything because she always wanted to be with her children, even when my dad was assaulting her. I’m in a terrible place, and I don’t see any way out of it soon. My mother spent her entire life serving God and working in his home, so I believe she is in heaven and am doing my best to cope. She visited the chapel to pray even on her last day. She wouldn’t have left the violent marriage even if we had forced her to, therefore she is now relieved of my Dad’s suffering. since she is now
What are you paid to do?
I own a laundry business, but I haven’t been well enough to leave the house since the incident. The store is shut.
What age was your mother when she died?
In December 2022, my mother recently finished her 54th year.
How about your father?
My father is a 63-year-old businessman who works in the forestry industry. My mother engaged in petty business by selling clothing for both sexes.
What life lessons has this experience taught you?
Since my mother passed away, my life has changed. Because no one knows when they will pass away, we must also make plans for our deaths as we do for our lives. To achieve paradise, we must diligently know God and serve him. However, since everything is vanity, nothing is worth sacrificing ourselves for. We will return empty if we leave empty. Even my mother’s most prized clothing was too precious to take. That is sad.
What steps did you take to make sure your father’s kidnappers released him?
We were forced to borrow money in order to ensure my dad’s release. We still owe money.
What feelings did your father have after learning of your mother’s passing?
When he heard it straight from us, my Dad was astonished because he believed that we had told him that our mother was deceased in an effort to persuade the kidnappers to free him. I had never before noticed him crying.
What kind of assistance and support did your family and friends provide for you?
Several family members gave a token as a gift. Friends also did it. They didn’t give us up to a million dollars. Everyone is having difficulties, which is reasonable.
Has your mom been laid to rest?
She’s still in the morgue, though. The sixth month has passed and there is still no money.
What are your plans for the burial, exactly?
My mother is a well-liked woman and deserves to be buried properly. We are making every effort to put her to rest.
What sort of assistance do you need?
We require financial support. I kept my hope and faith in God. My mother taught us to always have trust in God since she is a believer, thus I am aware that God makes a way for us. I have faith that God will provide us with aid. Additionally, I require inspiration and companions with whom I can confide. I really feel alone.
