Why I Surrendered to Kidnappers Instead of Disappearing – Anambra Native Doctor Explains

Patrick OdeyJuly 29, 2023

3 minutes read

A popular native doctor from Anambra, Chidozie Nwangwu, also known as “Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki”, has revealed how he could have escaped from his kidnappers but chose not to. Nwangwu was abducted last Sunday and was freed early on Saturday morning.

Nwangwu narrated his ordeal, saying that he went to his hotel after receiving a call from some guests who claimed they were spending money and wanted him to join them. He said he drove there alone in his new car, without any escort.

He said he was at the hotel for less than 30 minutes when he heard gunshots and saw people running for their lives. He said he went out to see what was going on and the kidnappers started shooting at him.

He said they killed two of his security men and tried to take him away. He said he had the power to run away, but he decided to follow them to avoid more bloodshed.

He said, “I have seen those that were shot and I said if I leave, they would kill many people. A lot of people were lying down, and if I wanted to leave, they would have killed many.

He denied that he was kidnapped because he defrauded anyone. He said he had enough money and was ready to refund anyone who had a complaint against him. He said the kidnappers were related to the sit-at-home order and that they had a list of more targets.

He said they killed many people in front of him, up to 20 people. He said he did not take anyone’s money, they just came to kidnap people who had money. He said they wanted to kidnap as many as 50 people from his hotel that day, but he rather followed them.

“What really happened was that I was there (at home) that day, at around 11:30 am, when someone called me and said they were at my hotel, and that they were spending money, and had spent close to N300,000, and that they would have wanted me to be around.

“I obliged them and drove to the hotel all by myself, in my new car. No one came with me. I was there, and not up to 30 minutes later, gunshots rented the air. People started running helter-skelter. I now went out to see what was happening, and the people started shooting at me.

“They killed two of my security men. I don’t want to reveal much now, but I know that only two things can save a man. If your charms do not save you, your money will save you.

“Anyone who has charms should have money. So the people took me into their car. If I wanted to run away, I would have run away, but I have seen those that were shot and I said if I leave, they would kill many people. A lot of people were lying down, and if I wanted to leave, they would have killed many.

“The story too would have been that the whole thing started when I came in, meaning that I was the one who brought in kidnappers. I decided to follow them to show that my hands were clean. What I did was to save many souls. If you think they took me because I ate people’s money, let me tell you I did not. If I eat your money, come to me I will give you money because I have money.

“This whole thing is related to this sit-at-home people, and they mentioned names of more people they will take, but it’s not something I can say now. They killed many in front of me. They killed up to 20 people before me. I did not take anyone’s money, they just came to kidnap and their target is people who have money. They wanted to kidnap as many as 50 people from my hotel that day, but I rather followed them.