Chef Recounts Arrest in Remote Bush, Questions Police Inability to Trace Kidnappers
A Nigerian chef known as Bawalicious has shared a troubling account of his arrest by police who tracked his mobile phone to a remote bush in Nasarawa State, where he was cooking for Chinese miners. The incident, which occurred in August 2024, has led him to question why kidnappers who make ransom calls remain untraceable, suggesting that such crimes may be "sponsored."
Detailed Account of the Arrest
Bawalicious, who specializes in cooking for foreign workers in Nigeria, narrated how a dispute with his former boss in Abuja resulted in police tracing him to a small village in Uke, Nasarawa State. He described the location as having poor network coverage, with minimal noise and surrounded by bushland. Despite these challenges, police managed to pinpoint his exact spot using his phone.
Deceptive Tactics Used by Police
He revealed that the police sent two Idoma men to apprehend him, as they had deduced his tribe from his calls and used this information to deceive him. They claimed to be his uncle and asked him to come outside the company gates. When he refused due to fear and lack of recognition of the number or voice, they forcefully entered the premises and requested security to call him, labeling him a thief.
Background of the Dispute
The chef's offense stemmed from his former boss reporting that he had stolen a phone. Bawalicious insisted that the iPhone in question was sold to him by the boss. He explained that when the boss initially wanted to sell a phone, he purchased it and used it for four months. However, after they fell out and he quit working for the company, the narrative changed, with the boss claiming it was a "company phone" and that the "bigger boss" wanted it back.
Bawalicious demanded a refund, stating, "No refund, no phone." Shortly after, police arrived, seized the phone, and were prepared to detain him without a proper investigation or hearing his side of the story. He credited his father's intervention, through calls and sending people to assist, for preventing a worse outcome. Despite this, he was forced to write a statement and pay a significant sum to resolve the case.
Questioning Police Priorities
The experience deeply affected Bawalicious, who had not discussed it publicly until now. He expressed ongoing concern over the police's ability to track him in such a remote area while kidnappers, who make calls to demand ransom and move around, seem untraceable. He pointed out the inconsistency, noting that police can track "yahoo boys" (internet fraudsters) overnight, yet kidnappers become invisible.
He wrote, "If they could track me down to a remote bush in Uke, a place where we were literally mining stones and cooking in the middle of nowhere, what exactly is the excuse for not tracking kidnappers? These people collect ransom. They make calls. They move around. So what really is the problem? And you still want to tell me these things are not being sponsored?"
Bawalicious concluded by urging for more honest discussions and real questions about the issue, highlighting a perceived lack of accountability in tackling kidnappings compared to other crimes.
