Father of missing young man receives ransom demand after 29 days of disappearance

Mbeya. It has been 29 days since Shadrack Chaula, a 24-year-old resident of Ntokela Village in Rungwe District, Mbeya Region, went missing. His father, Yusuph Chaula, 56, reported that he received a ransom demand from an unknown caller who requested Sh3 million for his son's return.

Shadrack was apprehended on June 22, 2024, for burning a photo of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

On July 4, 2024, Resident Magistrate of the Rungwe District Court, Shamla Shehagiro sentenced him to two years in prison or a fine of Sh5 million after being found guilty of cybercrimes.

Unable to pay the fine, he was sentenced to prison but he was later released on July 8 after a fundraising campaign raised the Sh5 million within a few hours.

On August 2, 2024, around 2:30 PM, he was reportedly abducted by unknown individuals in a black, unregistered car.

And, in an interview with The Citizen’s sister publication, Mwananchi on Sunday, September 1, Yusuph Chaula expressed his anguish and frustration. He revealed that he is struggling to raise the demanded amount to either have his son returned alive or confirm his death.

"I remember receiving a call recently where I was asked if I was Shadrack's father. When I confirmed, I was told that to get my son back, I must send Sh3 million," Yusuph said.

After receiving the ransom demand, Yusuph reported the incident to the Rungwe police station, providing them with the phone number used for the ransom call. The police were investigating to locate his son.

As Yusuph and his family continue to endure significant distress, they have been unable to eat or sleep properly. Despite their efforts to seek answers through meetings and extensive searches, they remain in a state of uncertainty.

"The distress is unbearable. We are waiting for help from our responsive government," Yusuph said, visibly struggling with emotional pain. He has urged the Police Force to conduct a thorough investigation using the phone number involved.

Regarding his health, Yusuph reported that his condition has worsened, with high blood pressure and severe pain. "The health experts advised me to reduce stress, but how can I when Shadrack was such a significant support to me? After a month without any news, I don't know how to cope," he added.

On the day of his disappearance, Shadrack’s peers reported seeing him being abducted and forced into a black car, which then sped off towards Mbeya. Yusuph's subsequent report to the Kiwira police station was met with a request to return another day as investigations had commenced.

Despite following up on these leads, Yusuph has yet to find any results and remains hopeful for intervention from President Samia Suluhu Hassan to secure his son's safe return.

The Mbeya Regional Police Commander Benjamin Kuzaga has pledged to follow up on the ransom report and stated, "I will investigate the matter. I was previously occupied with the Relay Marathon. Please allow me some time to make the necessary contacts."

The search for Shadrack continues as his family awaits answers and seeks justice.