For 13 years Dr Nathans Ibe has made regular trips from the UK to his homeland Nigeria to give free healthcare to villagers. But on his most recent trip to Imo state in the volatile Niger Delta he was kidnapped. He described his ordeal to journalist Belinda Otas.
“On 3 September, I was driving back to town after my clinic in Umuocham Ntu village, Owerri at 5pm when I saw two guys near a motorbike – one was sitting and the other was looking at it like something had gone wrong.
So I slowed down and got close to the motorbike, wanting to offer assistance when the guy on the bike jumped off with a gun. At this point, two other men came out from the bush brandishing guns at me.
I tried to reverse my car as I thought they were armed robbers or car-snatchers. But it was too late. I stopped my car and ran into the bush but they came charging after me.
They got me at gunpoint, tied my hands and legs, and blindfolded me before they dragged me into the back seat of my car and started driving.
I asked them if they wanted the car, they said no, they wanted me. This was when I realised they were kidnappers.
They told me they wanted money, saying they were young boys and had no jobs.
They were very violent, one of them sat on my head and neck and when I tried to tell them that I could not breathe, they smacked me with their gun.
They drove for about an hour, parked and pushed me out of the car, untied my legs and walked me into a forest.
However, they had not made any contact with anyone, so I contemplated the fact that I might be there for a while – at least two weeks – while they negotiated and if the money was not paid, they would kill me.
I found out after my escape that at about 8:15pm on the same day, my cousin had called my mobile phone when I didn’t get back home in time. They told him: “We have the doctor and we want 1bn naira ($6.7m; $£4.2m).”
I have no idea why they targeted me. I can only put it down to the fact that I visit this village regularly, they know I’m from London and think I have money.
In the forest, they calmed down a little and it was now two of them with me. The others had gone. One left to smoke and the other guy stooped down and said to me: “Doctor, if you co-operate, we won’t kill you. All we need is money.”
So, I told him that I come to Africa to give, and that before they kidnapped me I had just finished a clinic for the local people.
I think this may have touched him. He stood up and said he was coming back but didn’t come back for a while.
I raised my blindfold a little and when I didn’t see either of them, I took the opportunity and gently crawled away.
I finally untied myself and started running. After 10 minutes of running, I came to a valley; that was when the trouble started.
It was a very deep valley, I cannot begin to quantify its depth and I know with a lucid mind, there is no way I would have jumped but I was running for my life and I jumped.
I would have done anything to escape. When I got to the other side, I could hear sounds of people searching.
I found a river and went down its embankment. I soon found a cave where I hid for an hour. When I came out it was dark, I didn’t know where I was, if I was in Nigeria or Cameroon but I turned right and kept walking.
I was concerned about being in a forest full of wild animals, snakes, scorpions and hunters but I heard people singing and started walking towards the voices.
I came to a village track and the singing stopped.
It was 12 midnight. I found my way to a village where I met a few men sitting outside and in tears, I explained my situation to them. I had to show them my wristwatch to prove that I was from London before they believed my story and took me in.
I was finally able to call my cousin using one of their phones. The police came for me the next day at 9am.
I’m not happy at what happened to me but I won’t say I’m angry either.
No-one can justify crime and these young boys are responsible for their actions. However, the government needs to take control of the situation and start programmes to empower the youth.”