Michael Akinropo Adesiyan, a Deputy Director at the National Assembly Commission, who was abducted from his residence in Kubwa. Abuja, has recounted how kidnappers killed his wife in his presence.
It was reported that abducted Adesiyan, his wife, Esther, their son and two others on Monday night, January 26, 2025.
The kidnappers k!lled his wife and dumped her body in a bush near Itagbajii community in Niger state on January 27.
Adesiyan was among the 60 kidnapped victims rescued by troops of the Nigerian Army’s 1 Division and received by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, in Abuja.
The Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka, said the victims, comprising 35 males and 25 females—were rescued on April 7 in a joint operation involving various security and intelligence agencies across Kaduna State and the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking shortly after the formal reception, Adesiyan advocated a non-combative approach to tackling banditry.
He said the bandits, mostly aged between 17 and 21, were stark illiterates and victims of circumstance.
“I was chained for 32 days. Most of them can’t even count up to a million. They don’t know what they’re doing. Instead of k!lling them, the government should arrest, educate, and rehabilitate them. Some of them want to learn trades. They can still be useful,” he said.
Michael recounted how his wife was k!lled in his presence.
“When they k!ll someone in front of you, you’ll give them anything they want. They k!lled my wife before me. In that moment, if they asked for my head, I would have given it.”