A group of graduates from Akwa Ibom State, abducted last year in Zamfara on their way to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program in Sokoto, have appealed to the Federal and State governments for employment opportunities to help them recover from the traumatic experiences they endured.
The eight former corps members, along with their bus driver, were kidnapped on August 17, 2023, while traveling on a highway in Zamfara. Their nightmare in captivity, which included extreme hardship, lasted several months. The final captive, Solomon Daniel, was released after more than a year in confinement.
During a press conference in Uyo on Thursday, survivors opened up about the ongoing physical and emotional challenges they face due to their ordeal. Many continue to battle health issues and post-traumatic stress from their time in the kidnappers’ camp.
Solomon Daniel, who spent the longest time in captivity, shared his painful story. Separated from the rest of the group because his widowed mother could not pay the ransom, Daniel was left to endure severe conditions.
“I went through hell,” Daniel recounted. “I had to survive by chewing leaves and drinking dirty water. There were times I didn’t think I would make it out alive.”
He added that the kidnappers subjected him to daily torture for three months. “I couldn’t urinate or defecate for months. I was labelled ‘the most stubborn’ by them because I refused to pay the ransom. I thought death was certain,” he revealed.
Daniel was eventually transferred on a motorcycle from Zamfara to Kaduna via bush trails, under the constant watch of more than 10 armed men, before being rescued by security operatives.
Another victim, Victoria Bassey, described the horrific conditions they endured: “We couldn’t even bathe during our menstrual periods. We were forced to drink flood water just to stay alive.”
Etim Bassey explained how the abductors, disguised as soldiers, set up a fake checkpoint to ambush their bus. “We thought it was a legitimate checkpoint because the area was blocked by logs and armed men dressed in military uniforms. That’s how they forced us into the forest,” he recounted.
The freed corps members expressed immense gratitude to everyone involved in their rescue. They appealed to the Federal and State governments for jobs and other support to help them rebuild their lives.
They thanked President Bola Tinubu, NYSC Director-General Gen Yusha’u Ahmed, Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno, security forces, and the countless Nigerians who contributed to their freedom.
Matthew Koffi Okono, Founder and President of the Open Forum Care for Humanity Foundation, who organized the forum where the victims shared their stories, echoed the call for government support. He urged the authorities to provide job opportunities and assist the survivors in overcoming their trauma.
He also called for reforms in the NYSC scheme, stating, “The Federal Government should prioritize making the NYSC program safer and more development-oriented to strengthen its role in nation-building.”
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