Kidnapped victims not too long ago free of captivity have revealed that kidnappers used toxic snakes to terrorise them.
A few of them, who recounted their ordeals in separate interviews with the Information Company of Nigeria, stated that there have been many snakes within the forests inhabited by the bandits.
They stated that the snakes usually chunk each the abductors and the victims.
One in every of them, who craved anonymity, advised NAN that kidnappers threw them into snake-infested spots.
He stated, “The abductors know the areas infested with snakes and would usually throw the victims there.
“Instantly they see snakes, the fear-stricken victims will need to run away. The sight is used to frighten folks.
“That’s the time a sufferer can ask family and friends members to promote every little thing – home, land, vehicles, home goods, footwear, simply every little thing – to lift the ransom.”
NAN investigation revealed that the worst snake-infested forests are in Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State, and Kala-Balge, close to Lake Chad, in Borno.
Different areas included Shaki in Oyo State, Borgu and Kagara in Niger, Karim Lamido in Adamawa, and Lau in Taraba.
Among the victims advised NAN that the state of affairs is worse now with the present warmth as snakes go away their holes in quest of contemporary air and meals.
“The nights are sometimes extra traumatising. You might be left exterior at the hours of darkness, and a reptile may creep by your legs.
“Whereas I used to be in captivity, snakes bit some victims. The abductors weren’t spared as a few of them additionally acquired bitten,” a sufferer, who was taken to a thick forest in Kagara, in Niger, advised NAN.
In response to him, in Kagara forest, the snakes are so frequent that the locals seek advice from them as “kadangarun Kagara (Kagara lizards).”
The Chairman, Echitap Research Group, the outfit in control of Echitap Anti-Snake Venom, Prof. Abdulsalam Nasidi, who spoke on the event, confirmed that banditry was related to areas susceptible to snake bites.
Nasidi, whose group collaborates with Micropharm UK Restricted and Instituto Clodomiro Picardo, Costa Rica, to convey the medication to Nigeria, decried the rising circumstances of snake bites in Nigeria.
He stated, “Sadly for us, the price of snake chunk therapy has gone nicely past the attain of the poor,” he stated.
Whereas confirming that some abductees returned with snakebite wounds, he stated that the price of therapy might solely be inexpensive if the ASV medication have been produced regionally.
“The ASV producers are able to collaborate with us to supply the ASV in Nigeria.
“It’s only once we produce ASV regionally in Nigeria that we will make it out there at a lowered price.
“The rise within the worth of the greenback has made the price of overseas manufacturing so excessive that the poor man who, usually, is the sufferer of snake bites, can not afford it.
“Prior to now, villagers used to contribute cash to buy ASV. That’s not potential.
“An ample quantity of the Echitap G ASV, which takes care of venoms from a carpet viper, prices 59 kilos manufacturing unit worth. 97 per cent of toxic snake chunk circumstances in Nigeria are from carpet vipers.
“For Echitap plus ICP ASV, which treats venom from puff adder, carpet viper, and black cobra, an ample is 24 {dollars} manufacturing unit worth.
“If you happen to add the price of transportation from the 2 international locations – UK and Costa Rica – plus the costs for clearance on the ports, the value turns into a distinct factor.”
He recognized essentially the most toxic snakes in Nigeria as carpet viper, puff adder, and black cobra.
“However, we even have an equally harmful snake – Black Mamba – in Abuja. So, we additionally want an ASV for it,” he stated.
In response to him, previously, Nigerians bitten by snakes had 40 per cent probability of survival.
“However, if the black mamba is added, the probabilities shrink to 10 per cent. It means we desperately want to supply ASV regionally,” he stated.
On kidnappers intentionally exposing their victims to snakes, he identified that snakes have no idea the distinction between a kidnapper and his sufferer.
He lamented the prevalence of snake bites amongst poor Nigerians who have been already hungry.
“If a snake bites a hungry individual, his case is barely pathetic as he’s already economically traumatised with out a lot hope,” he stated.
He significantly condemned the inhuman behaviour of exposing abductees to snake bites and regretted the “zero” premium positioned on human life.
“From the accounts of victims, kidnapped folks might see a snake coming towards them and should not allowed to run. Nothing is extra traumatising,” he stated.
Nasidi stated that his group had submitted a proposal to the Central Financial institution of Nigeria, for the native manufacturing of ASV.
“The proposal has been authorised, and we’re ready for the cash to start out up.
“The overseas producers are prepared to supply the expertise. So, we’re hopeful that we will quickly begin native manufacturing of ASV,” he stated.
Nasidi suggested Nigerians to watch out whereas transferring at evening, noting that snakes have been transferring nearer to human habitats.
“We should all be very watchful and observant. Treating snake bites could be very costly. So, prevention is healthier than any type of remedy,” he stated.
NAN
