How Kaduna NURTW paid N5.7 million ransom to rescue kidnapped drivers

How Kaduna NURTW paid N5.7 million ransom to rescue kidnapped drivers

Inaugurates over 10 officials for Industrial Area of Kaduna

It was a mixed feelings of joy and sadness penultimate Saturday when newly elected officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) were inaugurated for the Kundenda industrial area of Kaduna metropolis.

They were happy that the long expected Area Office of the Union officially came to reality, just as they lamented whooping sum of money paid recently as ransom to rescue their kidnapped members from captivity.

This was even as there was a general laughter among invited guests when one of the elected officials in his speech, perhaps, out of slip of the tongue, unconsciously shouted, ‘PDP!!! at the event.

But the Master of Ceremony (MC) reminded him that the event was not a political party gathering and put him on the right track by shouting NURTW!!!, and all the members responded, Progress!!!.

Chairman, Kundenda Industrial Area, Kaduna Unit of the NURTW, Comrade Gabriel Abah while fielding questions from our Correspondent said, “Based on our standard as union of heavy trucks, we are going to try our possible best to put things in order, most especially to ensure conducive environment for our drivers who are facing so many problems like bad roads, robbery, kidnapping, so on and so forth on the highways.

“So I am going to ensure under my administration to see that I put things in good conditions for our members. And I want to advise my members and followers to always abide by the laws of the land to enable us achieve our aims and objectives.

“Regrettably, as I speak with you we were able to regain the freedom of seven of our members who were kidnapped sometimes ago on the highways. They were kidnapped along Katsina, Zamfara, Abuja and Birnin Gwari highways. But we give glory to God that none of them was killed by the kidnappers.

“To secure their freedom, we paid ransom; the first one was N1.5 million, another one was N1.2 million and the highest was N3 million.

“We have advised our drivers to always monitor the highways as they drive to their respective destination. They need to look far ahead of them as they drive along the highways to ensure no unusual happening ahead of them.

“Where they see that the road is too lonely, no oncoming vehicles, they should park and observe the situation before continuing with the journey or return to base.

On cases of fraudulent drivers diverting goods for personal gains, the newly elected Chairman in charge of Kundenda Industrial Area promised to punish any driver found engaging in such criminal act in accordance with the law of the union.

“However, I will carry everybody along irrespective of ethno-religious difference in order to ensure the success of our great union. NURTW is one united family, its activities is not about religion, it is not about politics, it is not about tribal grouping. It is about all of us who road transport workers in Nigeria.

“We will work hand in hand with the law enforcement agencies to ensure the security of our members both at the State and inter State movement of our drivers” He added

Highlights of the occasion was the presentation of certificate to the newly elected officials of the unit of the union, as well as group photograph of the officials.