Barnali Baruah Saikia, an Indian woman and a boxer from Guwahati, Assam, was rescued this week after enduring a harrowing 14-day captivity in Lagos, Nigeria. She had traveled to Nigeria for a vacation on October 28, 2023, where she was held against her will by a Nigerian man referred to as King, and his accomplice, Daniel....CONTINUE READING
Introduced to King by her husband, Nayan Saikia, through social media six months prior, Barnali’s initial interactions with King led to a close bond. However, upon her arrival in Nigeria, King confiscated her visa, passport, and cash, starting a distressing ordeal.
During her captivity, Barnali was confined, denied adequate food, and faced a distressing situation. Fortunately, on the fourth day of her ordeal, she managed to make a WhatsApp call to her family, seeking their help to secure her release from the abductors.
King demanded ransom from Barnali’s family, threatening them, and even hindered her from reaching the airport despite having a return ticket booked by her husband.
Her husband sought assistance from Indian authorities, including the Dispur Police station and the Delhi Crime Branch, to ensure Barnali’s safe return.
Nayan Saikia recounted the distressing experience, mentioning King’s promise to extend Barnali’s visa but instead demanding money for her release. He revealed that despite confiscating her money and passport, Barnali was allowed to contact her family through her phone, but she suffered from deprivation, surviving by drinking water from the sink tap.
The rescue effort gained momentum with media coverage and the involvement of Nigerian nationals studying in Assam. Additionally, a friend with a hotel in Nigeria, 40 km away from where Barnali was held, assisted in her release. Pressure from various quarters forced the captors to release her, and she safely reached Mumbai on November 18.
Addressing reports suggesting otherwise, Nayan emphasized that Barnali was indeed held against her will, with ransom demands made for her release. He expressed relief at her safe return, though Barnali remains physically and mentally weakened due to the ordeal, having endured deprivation of food and water during her captivity.
