Three of the eight Akwa Ibom State corps members kidnapped in Zamfara State while traveling for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have shared their harrowing experiences in captivity. The victims endured between two months and a year in the kidnappers’ custody.
In an interview in Akwa Ibom on Thursday, facilitated by Matthew Koffi Okono of the Open Forum Care for Humanity Foundation, the survivors – one female and two males – described their traumatic ordeal, including torture, being forced to eat grass, and drinking floodwater.
Captivity and Escape Attempts
The kidnapping occurred on August 17, 2023, along Gusau Road, Zamfara. The victims recalled how their vehicle was stopped by armed men disguised as military personnel. Although some passengers managed to escape, others were taken into the forest where they were stripped of their belongings.
Living Conditions and Hardships
The captives slept on rice sacks in the open forest and took shelter under trees during rainstorms. They coexisted with wild animals, including snakes and scorpions. One of the captives, Solomon, described being singled out and transferred to Kaduna, where he was chained and tortured. He spent three weeks without food or water and was forced to drink floodwater.
Another victim recounted how the language barrier made communication difficult and that attempts to escape were punished severely. The female survivor described the indignity of wearing the same clothes for two months, even during menstruation, with minimal opportunities to bathe.
Rescue and Appreciation
Solomon, who spent a year in captivity, was rescued by military forces on August 22, 2024. He expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Army, President Bola Tinubu, NYSC Director-General Yusha’u Dogara Ahmed, Governor Umo Eno, and other security personnel for their efforts.
The survivors are now appealing for government employment or other opportunities to rebuild their lives after the tr
aumatic experience.
