By Newscount
Michael Akinropo Adesiyan, a Deputy Director at the National Assembly Commission, shared his harrowing experience after being rescued from kidnappers. He and his wife, Esther, their son Ifeoluwa, and two others were abducted from their home in Kubwa, Abuja, on January 26, 2025. Tragically, his wife was killed in front of him just a day after their abduction.
Adesiyan was held captive for 32 days before being rescued in a joint operation by security agencies on April 7, 2025, along with 59 other victims. He recounted how his wife was killed, saying, “When they kill someone in front of you, you’ll give them anything they want. They killed my wife before me. In that moment, if they asked for my head, I would have given it.”
Adesiyan advocates for a non-combative approach to tackling banditry, suggesting that many kidnappers are young, illiterate, and victims of circumstance. He believes the government should focus on arresting, educating, and rehabilitating them instead of killing them. Adesiyan’s emotional appeal highlights the need for a more nuanced approach to addressing the root causes of banditry.
