“How we regained freedom after six days in captivity in Abuja”

Nigerian Juju musician Omoba De Jombo Beats and his band members have shared their ordeal after regaining freedom from kidnappers.

The musician and his band were abducted on 17 December 2023 after a show in Kogi State.

In a recent interview with the (BBC), the musicians, all 13 of them, recounted their six-day ordeal in the kidnappers’ custody.

The band leader, Adebukoye Omooba, stated that they were kidnapped while returning from a funeral event in Itakete-Isao, Kogi State, Premium Times reports.

Mr Omooba mentioned that they attended the funeral on Thursday, finished performing around 5:30 p.m. on Friday, and chose to head back to Abuja before they were abducted.

He explained that the kidnappers initially asked for a N10 million ransom per person, but after numerous pleas, they settled for N7 million.

He said the kidnapper’s boss wanted him to identify three members that he could kill if the ransom was late.

He added that he found it difficult— he volunteered to take the punishment instead, letting the other members go.