As kidnapping continues to plague the country, a disturbing twist is emerging, with some Nigerians allegedly turning the fear of abduction into a tool for personal gain by staging their own kidnappings and demanding ransoms from their loved ones for their supposed release. VICTOR AYENI writes
The disappointment that echoed through James Eghosa’s (not his real name) voice as he recounted his story of betrayal was palpable, hanging heavily in the air as though one could almost cut through it with a knife.
Born in Edo State, the medical doctor relocated to the United States in 2017 after enduring a difficult period in Nigeria, where he studied at a state university in the South-South.
Those university years were far from easy. At a time when he was struggling to keep up with the demands of school and make ends meet, his elder brother, Charles, became a dependable source of financial support. Charles made a modest living repairing refrigerators and air conditioners, yet he consistently stretched what he had to help his younger brother stay in school.
“My brother had his own family, yet he was there for me when I had nothing. He stood in as the father we lost very early in our lives. Because of this, I promised myself that when I am in a better place financially, I would be there for him too,” James told Sunday PUNCH.
