The Ransom Dealers

The Detective

Assistant Superintendent of Police Sani Muhammad was a renowned, astute police officer. He graduated at the top of his class, BSc. Forensic Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, United States of America. He studied Human Rights Law simultaneously in the same University, also topping the class. He then came back for a brief one year course in the Nigerian Law School, Abuja. After that, he did his NYSC at Gaida Primary School, Kano. All these he achieved by the age of twenty one.

He was currently serving under the AIG, Zone One, as the 2IC of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, for the zone. The states under Zone One were Kano and Jigawa and Katsina.

As at the time ASP Sani was given the mandate of heading the forensic unit for the zone, the population of Kano was about twenty million with only a police strength of nine thousand officers and men.Katsina however, had close to six million inhabitants with a police force of a little over four thousand officers. Jigawa on the other hand, had an estimated population of a little over four million, with a police staff strength of about five thousand police officers

ASP Sani had a collective population of thirty million people across the three states within the zone, but with less than twenty thousand police officers to combat crime. He knew it was an impossible task, but he wasn't a stranger to impossible tasks.

ASP Sani was very ambitious. His dream was to become the Inspector General of Police in Nigeria one day. He had already mapped out his journey to the top, and he saw no reason why his goal could not be achieved, by the grace of God.

He was presently twenty-one years old, and would be one year older in about four months. He was an Assistant Superintendent of Police. He didn't want to waste more than three years on this position. By twenty four, he envisions himself as a Superintendent of Police. His plan is after five years max, he should bag his Deputy Superintendent of Police position. He would be twenty nine then. If things work out the way he expects, by the age of forty he would have gone through the position of Chief Superintendent, Assistant Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and become a Commissioner of Police.

He was sure he would become IG by the age of forty five, the youngest IG Nigeria has ever had!

A knock on the door disrupted his daydreaming. "Yes! Come in!"

Sergeant James, his orderly and Personal Assistant, stepped into the office and planted himself at attention in front of the large desk.

"At ease", Sani commanded. "Is there anything? Have you taken those files I have you to Oga?"

"Yes sir! I gave them to his orderly first thing in the morning. Sir, there is a man here to see you. I think it's Alhaji Isyaku Chanji", James said.

Sani immediately became alert. There was only one Isyaku Chanji, and if he was here it could only mean trouble.

"Show him in", he said. James turned and went outside. A moment later, Alhaji Isyaku walked in. Once glance at him, and Sani knew that the trouble was really bad.

Alhaji Isyaku Abubakar, AKA known as Alhaji Isyaku Chanji, was a successful business man who made his mark in the Bureau De Change and Automobile Importation Industries in Nigeria. He had offices for both businesses in all the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. He was rumoured to be as rich as the richest man in Africa, Aliko Dangote. It was said about Alhaji Isyaku Chanji that ten million naira was of less value to him than a hundred naira to you. He was rich. Very rich. It was difficult to guess his age, but Sani placed him on the wrong side of fifty. He was of average height, fair complexioned with a long, beaky nose. His mouth was a thin line, almost lipless. Surprisingly, his head was full of hair, with a lot of gray scattered all over his head and beard. It's only when you looked into his piercing eyes you realized where the drive for success came from.

Right this moment, as Sani's detective eyes assessed him shrewdly, he looked tired, old and drawn.

"Assalamualaikum Sir", Sani greeted him in the northern Islamic way.

"Wa Alaikum Salam Officer", Alhaji Isyaku answered in a resigned tone.

"How may I be of assistance please?", the ASP asked.

"My name is Alhaji Isyaku Chanji. I am…" he began, but Sani interrupted him.

"I know who you are Sir. Just tell me what the problem is, and let me know how I can help".

Alhaji Isyaku hung his head, obviously not knowing where to start.

"My son has been kidnapped…", he began, "It's been two days since the ransom payment and they haven't returned him to me".

ASP Sani felt a very strong emotion run through him. He motioned Alhaji Isyaku to pause and produced a tape recorder. "I need to record your statement", he explained. "Now, start all over again. I need every detail, no matter how inconsequential. Start with your name, address, what you do and the events that happened before, during and after the kidnapping".

After Alhaji Isyaku had provided his details into the tape recorder, ASP Sani asked, “What is your son’s name and how old is he?”

“His name is Abdullah and he is fifteen”, Alhaji replied, his eyes looking intently at the tape recorder.

“When and where was he kidnapped?”

“He was kidnapped a week ago, on Friday. He was on his way back from school”, answered Alhaji.

“Let me see his picture please”, the ASP said.

Alhaji brought out a picture from his pocket and handed it to ASP Sani.

Sani looked intently at the picture, and he saw a young handsome boy of fifteen. He looked so innocent, with so much hope and optimism for his future. Sani silently hoped and prayed they hadn't wasted the poor boy.

The fact that they have not returned the boy after the ransom was paid was a very bad sign.

Kidnapping in Nigeria was a very complicated business. A lot of the perpetrators were not professionals. Professional kidnappers knew how to manage their victims, make them comfortable and return them after the ransom had been delivered. They never made the mistake of connecting personally with their captives, and they never allowed any contact whatsoever with the inside man, or woman- if there was any. This was a business for them, and they always kept their side of the bargain.

There were also opportunistic kidnappers. These were among the most dangerous, and the majority of fatalities attributed to kidnapping came from this group. Because kidnapping had been given a negative popularity, a lot of criminals jump into the lucrative business, keeping in mind the kind of risk-free millions they stood to gain as compared to burglaries, carjackings and armed robberies that would most certainly be countered with a shootout with security forces and a shot in the back.

"When did they first communicate with you?" Sani asked.

"The next day, Saturday. A call came into my phone around 2am, a private number. That even makes it Sunday, not Saturday. As soon as I saw it, I knew it had to be them", explained Alhaji Isyaku.

"How much was the ransom?"

"They asked for five billion naira at first. I told them I don't have that amount of cash lying around. We later agreed at five hundred million naira, in dollars. That amounted to one point one million dollars. I gave them one hundred and twelve bundles of ten-ten thousand dollars", said Alhaji Isyaku.

"Did you deliver the ransom yourself?", Sani asked in alarm.

"Who else could I send? It had to be me, as I know sometimes kidnappers have been known to kidnap the ransom delivery person. I could not bear to put any other person at risk, gaskiya".

"About the dollars you gave them, did you get them from the bank of bureau de change"?, asked the ASP

"I have a personal safe in one of my houses. I always have dollars saved in case of any emergency", Alhaji Isyaku said.

ASP Sani filed this information away in his mind.

"Is there anything you can tell me about the phone call? Maybe the voice of the caller, or his accent. Did it sound like someone you know? Please take your time and think before you answer", prodded ASP Sani.

Alhaji Isyaku nodded to show he understood the line of questioning. "Actually there was something very surprising and shocking about the voice on the other end of the phone. It was very clear, no indication of threat or even danger. I could even say it was a friendly voice, and it sounded like we were having a normal business conversation. That's why I am shocked that he hasn't been returned for this long."

ASP Sani frowned, "What do you mean when you said the voice was friendly and not scary?"

Alhaji Isyaku paused, then blurted out, "It was a woman that called me".