Chimamanda Adichie shares shocking story of her dad's kidnap in 2015
Two hours
after the incident, her mother received a phone call from the kidnappers. They
didn't say much but to confirm the elder Adichie had been truly kidnapped. The
kidnappers did not make any demand till the next day. During this period of
silence, Chimamanda Adichie called the Governor of Anambra state, her home
state and the US consul-general in Lagos because her father is a citizen.
The consul
provided her with a kidnapping expert from the F.B.I. who helped her mum when
the kidnappers demanded a ransom the next day. The kidnappers wanted N5M. On
the third day, the ransom had gone up to N10M.
"Okey
drove to a point on the highway near Nsukka, then, as instructed, set off on a
motorcycle taxi for the designated meeting place, carrying ten million naira in
a sack. Nobody knew if he would be seen again" writes the New Yorker.
Thankfully
he was seen again and Chimamanda's father too. After the horrible ordeal,
Chimamanda's parents got on a flight to America to meet their daughter.
According to the article, the ordeal made Professor David Adichie look frail
and jumpy. "He rambled when he spoke" further writes The New Yorker.
Due to the
bad experience, Chimamanda Adichie did not go to Nigeria or read news about
Nigeria for six months.
Comments