How I survived abduction, robbery in Bucharest – Wole Soyinka

How I survived abduction, robbery in Bucharest – Wole Soyinka

Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has recounted an experience of abduction and robbery while visiting Bucharest, Romania.

Soyinka disclosed that he was in the country for the Sibiu International Theatre Festival, one of the world’s largest performing arts festivals, where he was scheduled to be honoured.

According to the renowned literary icon, his anticipation for the festival turned to shock shortly after he arrived in Bucharest after midnight.

After missing the party that was supposed to receive him at the airport, he entered what seemed like an official taxi headed to the Novotel Hotel, where he was supposed to stay.

In an unexpected turn of events, the driver made a diversion to a remote, dimly lit area.

“At nearly 1 a.m., the driver stopped in an unfamiliar place and revealed a POS machine, urging me to enter my pin.

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“I had to enter it without seeing the screen because he kept hiding it. For about 25 to 30 minutes, I deliberately entered the wrong pin, buying time, hoping someone would appear — maybe someone from the hotel or a passerby. But the place was completely deserted,” Soyinka said.

How I survived abduction, robbery in Bucharest – Wole Soyinka