By Kola Animasaun
I hope and pray that by the time the time of this publication, the four journalists abducted by kidnapers would have been released.  On Sunday, the Chairma of the Council of Lagos State NUJ, Mr. Wahab Oba and Secretary of Zone D, Adolphus Okonkwo lost their freedom. 

Two others were said to have joined, they said.

They were said to have been abducted at along Ikot-Ekpene-Aba Road.  They were returning from a meeting at Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.  They were abducted near Ukwakin in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State.

As usual, everyone is beating up to the doors of the wives of the journalists.  Governor of Lagos, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has offered to assist the journalists’ union “whatever way possible to secure release of their members still in captive in Abia State.”

Governor Orji of Abia State “has expressed his optimism that the four journalists kidnapped at a border town between his state and Akwa Ibom State would soon be released.”

Of course, the Inspector General of Police, Ogbonna Onovo, has offered the usual platitude: that the police would get to the root of “high rate of kidnapping and other crimes in the zone”.

I have no doubt that the journalists will be released.  Of course money will be charged and every happy will be happy.  That is the way the game is played.
Robberies seem not to be very payable and very dangerous.  Yahoo is not too easy, at least no longer as it used to pay.  Not many people can go into politics for the very payable premiums that it pays.

That has now narrowed it down to kidnapping.  The investment is meager and the return bountiful.  Besides, everybody seems to be muscling in.  The police seem to be taking their cut.

The way the government easily give up to kidnappers tend to give the impression that they also make some money on the side.  The traditional rulers of the East, who are smiling to the banks may have something to do with the proliferation of kidnappers.

The kidnappers have demanded a ransom of N250 million and they may negotiate it to N100 million.  Who are sharing in the booty?

Kidnapping should not be new to the journalists.  It is just that, this is the first time in living memory they are witnessing it in memory.

I am very unhappy for the unfortunate women who are undergoing the torture of their husbands.  My heart goes to Barakat Oba, Anthonia Adolphus, Okoronko and Christiana Silva Okereke.  May the wives of the men and the children reconcile with their fathers in short possible time.