How Austin Ilom, A Bank Staff, Was Killed By Kidnappers

By Gideon Njoku

“He asked for water to drink, but before it was brought, he died

This is the sad end of Austin Ilom, a vibrant, good looking  young man. A banker.

Ilom, a staff of Suleja branch of a second generation bank (name withheld by us), was about, three weeks ago, kidnapped from his Kubwa, Abuja, residence.

According to a post by a friend and/or a colleague of his who simply identified herself as Oby, Ilom’s kidnappers asked for a whopping sum of N50m in exchange for his release.

In her post on Whatsaap, she disclosed that his work place couldn’t help, allegedly, because, the young man, whom she described as one of the bank’s  best marketers, was not kidnapped from his office while on duty, but from his residence.

She also alleged that Ilom’s brother-in-law, a serving Senator (name withheld by us), was not of much help either. He said he would wait for the bank to first contribute. According to the post, he finally contributed the sum of “N3m, only”

But, devastated and frantic, Ilom’s colleagues and friends, struggled to garner the sum of N11.5m to help in his release.

The amount of money garnered was sent to the kidnappers, who asked them to go and bring the balance. But days later, they called, and asked them to pick Ilom from a spot.

They went.

However, it was an exhausted and almost dead Ilom whose physical state shocked them. They rushed him to the hospital. On arrival, he asked for water to drink. It was no use. Before the water was brought to him, he took his last breath. And, thus ended his life. Another waste. Another young Nigerian wasted in a country which is steadily becoming the graveyard of its subjects – especially, the young. It is an everyday business.

Following is Oby’s post, slightly edited to remove a couple of names – his Senator-brother-in-law and the bank’s

“Sad end of a young man.

“This is a bank staff of Suleja branch that was kidnapped 3 weeks ago from his house in Kubwa.

“They asked for 50m ransom, the bank refused to help because he was kidnapped at home and not on duty. His brother in -law is a serving Senator. He only said that he won’t do anything until bank brings their own contribution for his release. He ended up bringing only 3m. His friends and colleagues in the office raised 11.5m in total.

“Kidnappers collected the 11m and asked them to go and get the balance,  days later kidnappers called that they should come and pick him.

“They went and picked a half dead man. Shortly after he got to Bwari hospital, he asked for water, before they brought him the water, he gave up.

“Best marketing staff in Suleja branch.

Such a sad end of Austin Ilom.”

I have lost count of people I know, who were involved in one RANSOM contribution or the other for kidnappers to release their friend, family or colleagues.

– Oby.”