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| FRANK MBA |
Often times when people are faced with kidnap or hostage
situations the greatest challenge they are saddled with is how to get off the
hook. The quest to regain their freedom dominates the victim’s mind. Myriad of
rhetorical questions run through the helpless victim’s mind.
While it is common to get overwhelmed by the situation, the
thought of what to do is always miles off the victim’s mind. The preoccupation
will be how soon can the help come?
The victim’s mind is programmed to believe that the only available
help is dependent on what family members
and friends can do from without to
secure their release from captivity. The presumption is that nothing can be
done by the victim to salvage the ugly situation, except their loved ones act
swiftly.
While it is almost unimaginable that the victim has a role
to play to aid his release, it is pertinent to state here that irrespective of
how the situation may seem, there is something you can do. The situation is not
hopeless especially when you are able to do the following while in the
kidnapper’s net:
Attempt to thwart the abduction: The first few minutes of
abduction are often the best time to resist since there are probably people
around you depending on where you are. If this is the case and there are others
around you, this is the best time to fight back in a way that will gain others’
attention and perhaps provide you with their help. Think rationally and be
cooperative in this sort of situation.
Regain your composure. Your adrenaline will be pumping, your
heart will be pounding, and you will be terrified. Calm down. The sooner you
can regain your composure the better off you will be immediately and in the
long run.
3. Be
observant. Right from the start, you should try to observe and remember as much
as possible in order to help you plan an escape, predict your
abductor’s next moves, or give information to the police to aid in a rescue or
to help apprehend and convict the kidnapper. You may not be able to use your
eyes–you may be blindfolded, but you can still gather information with your
senses of hearing, touch, and smell.
Observe your captor(s):
How many are there?
Are they armed? If so, with what?
Are they in good physical condition?
What do they look and/or sound like?
How old are they?
Do they seem well-prepared?
What are their emotional states?
Observe your surroundings:
Where are you being taken? Visualize the route the abductors
take. Make note of turns, stops, and
variations in speed. Try to gauge the amount of time between points. Try
counting between each turn, e.g 128 left, 12 right. If you are familiar with
the area this can give you an advantage.
Where are you being held? Take in as much detail as possible
about your surroundings. Where are the exits? Are there cameras in place, a
lock on the door, or other security precautions? Are there any obstacles, such
as a large couch? Try to figure out where you are, and gather information that
may be helpful if you decide to escape.
Observe yourself:
Are you injured or wounded?
How are you bound or otherwise incapacitated?
How much freedom of movement do you have?
4. Try to ascertain
why you have been abducted. There are a variety of motivations for abduction,
from sexual assault to ransom demands to political leverage. How you interact
with your captors, and whether you risk an escape, should depend at least
partly on your captors’ motivation. If they are holding you for ransom or to
negotiate the release of prisoners, you are most likely worth far more to them
alive than dead. If you’ve been captured by a serial killer or sexual predator,
however, or if you’ve been abducted in retaliation for some political or
military action, your abductor likely intends to kill you. Your decision of
whether and when to attempt an escape should be made based on this information.
5. Keep a survival
attitude. Be positive. Remember, most kidnapping victims survive–the odds are
with you. Take it one day at a time.
6. Put your captor at
ease. Be calm. Cooperate (within reason) with your captor. Don’t make threats
or become violent, and don’t attempt to escape unless the time is right
7. Keep your dignity. It is generally psychologically harder
for a person to kill, rape, or otherwise harm a captive if the captive remains
“human” in the captor’s eyes. Do not grovel, beg, or become hysterical. Try
even not to cry. Do not challenge your abductor, but show him/her that you are
worthy of respect.
8. Attempt to establish a rapport with your abductor. If you
can build some sort of bond with your captor, he/she will generally be more
hesitant to harm you.
9. Avoid insulting your abductor or talking about
potentially sensitive subjects. You may think your abductor is a pathetic,
disgusting individual. While captives in movies sometimes get away with saying
such things, you should keep these thoughts to yourself. In addition, as in
most conversations with people you don’t know, politics is a good topic to stay
away from, especially if you are being held by terrorists or hostage-takers
that are politically motivated.
10. Be a good listener. Care about what your captor has to
say. Don’t patronize him, but be empathetic, and he’ll feel more comfortable
around you and more benevolent toward you. Being a good listener can also help
you gather information that would be useful for an escape or to help police
apprehend the abductor after you’re freed.
Appeal to your captor’s family feelings. If you have
children and your captor also has children, you have a powerful bond already in
place. Your captor can probably “put himself in your shoes,” realizing the
impact his abduction or death would have on his family. If you have pictures of
your family with you, consider showing one or more to your captors if the topic
comes up.
11. Try to communicate with other captives. If you are held
with other captives, talk to them as much as is safely possible. You may also
be able to plan an effective escape together. Depending on the situation, your
communication may have to be covert, and if you’re held for a long time you may
develop codes and signals.
12. Keep track of time, and try to discern patterns. Keeping
track of time can help you establish routines that will enable you to maintain
your dignity and your sanity. It can also help you plan and execute an escape
if you can detect patterns of when your abductor comes and goes and for how
long he is gone. If there are no clocks available, you will need to make a
conscious effort to keep track of time. If you can see sunlight, it will be
fairly easy, but otherwise you can listen for changes in activity outside, make
note of differences in your captor’s awareness level, try to detect different
food odors, or look for other clues.
13. Stay mentally active. Think about what you’ll do when
you get back home. Hold conversations in your head with friends and loved ones.
Do these things consciously, and you won’t be going crazy–you’ll be keeping
yourself sane.
14. Stay physically active. Being in good physical condition
can aid in your escape and keep you in good spirits during your captivity.
15. Ask for small
favors If you’re settled in for a long captivity, gradually ask for small
accommodations. Request a heavier blanket, for example, or a newspaper. Keep
requests small, at least initially, and space them far apart. You can make your
captivity more comfortable and make yourself more human to your captors.
16. Blend in. If you
are held with other captives, you don’t want to stand out, especially not as a
troublemaker.
17. Watch out for
warning signs. If your captors decide to kill you, you need to know as soon as
possible so that you can plan an escape. If they suddenly stop feeding you, if
they treat you more harshly (dehumanizing you), if they suddenly seem desperate
or frightened, or if other hostages are being released but your captors don’t
appear to intend to release you, be ready to make your best move. If they
suddenly stop hiding their identities after wearing masks etc, this is a very
strong sign that they are planning to kill you, so escape as quickly as
possible.
18. Try to escape
only if the time is right. When is the right time to escape? Sometimes it’s
safest to just wait to be freed or rescued. However, if the perfect situation
presents itself–if you have a solid plan and are almost certain that you can
successfully escape–you should take advantage of the opportunity. You should
also attempt to escape, even if your chances are not good, if you are
reasonably certain that your captors are going to kill you.
19. Stay out of the
way if a rescue attempt is made. Before you get too excited, keep in mind that
aside from the first few minutes of an abduction, the rescue attempt is the
most dangerous time in a hostage situation. Your captors may become desperate
and attempt to use you as a shield, or they may simply decide to kill any
hostages. When a rescue attempt occurs, try to hide from your captors, if
possible. Stay low, and protect your head with your hands, or try to get behind
some kind of protective barrier (under a desk or table, for example, or in a
bathtub). Don’t make sudden movements when armed rescuers burst in.
20. Follow the rescuers’ instructions carefully. Your
rescuers will be on edge, and they will most likely shoot first and ask
questions later. Obey all commands they give. If they tell everybody to lie
down on the floor or put their hands on their heads, for example, do it. Your
rescuers may even restrain you with zip-ties or handcuffs while they discern
who are hostages and who are the kidnappers. Remain calm and put rescuers at
ease.
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