By
Champion Mike Onyekwelu
Lagos, Nigeria – Security adviser and PhD researcher, Matthew Ibadin, has announced the launch of his memoir, Beyond the Ransom, a compelling true-life account of his encounters with violent attacks, kidnapping, captivity and the journey towards survival and personal transformation.
The book chronicles two traumatic incidents that profoundly shaped his life. In one encounter, armed men reportedly threw him out of his moving vehicle on the Ijora 7UP Bridge in Lagos. In a separate incident, he was kidnapped and held captive for four days in the Ovia Forest, Edo State.
Through Beyond the Ransom, Ibadin offers a deeply personal account of his experiences, highlighting the challenges of surviving captivity and the determination that led him back to academic pursuits and eventually shaped his professional journey as a security adviser and PhD researcher.
Beyond sharing his personal story, the memoir seeks to provide practical and valuable lessons on travel safety, risk assessment, preparedness for hostile environments and kidnapping prevention.
According to Ibadin, the motivation behind writing the book is to equip individuals, families, organisations and institutions with relevant knowledge that can help them make better-informed decisions regarding personal safety and security.
The memoir is expected to contribute to ongoing conversations about insecurity, personal protection, travel risks and the importance of proactive security awareness in Nigeria and beyond.
The official launch of Beyond the Ransom is scheduled as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 8 December 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Venue: Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos.
The launch will provide an opportunity for guests, security professionals, policymakers, academics, media practitioners and members of the public to engage with the author’s remarkable story and the important security lessons contained in the memoir.
With the message, “Love Without Borders,” Matthew Ibadin invites friends, associates, stakeholders and the general public to join him in celebrating the launch of a book that transforms personal tragedy into knowledge, advocacy and a practical contribution to public safety.
For enquiries and further information:
Matthew Ibadin
08023003688
Website: Matthewibadin.com
