In a heartbreaking and emotional recount, three National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members from Akwa Ibom State shared their terrifying experience of being kidnapped in Zamfara State. These corps members were on their way to begin their mandatory one-year national service when they were abducted by armed men on August 17, 2023.

The victims, who were held captive for durations ranging from two months to an entire year, spoke about their suffering at the hands of the kidnappers. They described being tortured, deprived of food and water, and forced to live in the wilderness where they had to survive by eating grass and drinking flood water. The mental and physical anguish they endured sheds light on the dangers many individuals face in some parts of Nigeria.

The corps members were traveling along Gusau Road in Zamfara State when their ordeal began. The road conditions were poor, forcing their vehicle to slow down. When they came across what appeared to be a roadblock, they assumed it was a checkpoint. However, armed men, some dressed in kaftans and others in military camouflage, suddenly emerged and forced them out of the vehicle. These men were heavily armed and had prepared the ambush with logs of wood placed on the road.

The kidnappers marched the corps members, along with the driver, into the nearby forest. While some passengers managed to escape in the chaos, others were left helpless as they were led deeper into the bush. Stripped of their belongings and left with nothing, the corps members were thrust into a nightmare that would last for months.

The forest, which became their prison, offered no shelter or comfort. The kidnappers provided no protection, leaving the victims to sleep on rice sacks laid on the ground. Whenever it rained, they had no option but to huddle under trees for cover, hoping the downpour would stop soon.

The fear of wild animals added to their misery. Venomous creatures like snakes and scorpions were a constant threat. On several occasions, bush dogs wandered into their area, only to be chased away by gunshots fired by the captors. The corps members had to rely on their abductors to protect them from the dangers lurking in the forest.

The kidnappers were accustomed to living in such harsh conditions, but for the NYSC corps members, it was a living nightmare. Every day was a struggle for survival as they waited for any sign of rescue.

Among the three freed corps members, Solomon’s experience was particularly brutal. The kidnappers labeled him as “stubborn” because he and his family were unable to pay the ransom they demanded. His refusal to provide them with money led to severe punishment.

Solomon was beaten repeatedly and tortured. For three weeks, he and others had no food, and when the kidnappers finally gave them something to eat, it was grass. In the absence of clean water, they were forced to drink flood water. Solomon’s ordeal worsened when he was chained and transferred from Zamfara to Kaduna on a motorcycle through bush paths.

During his time in captivity, Solomon fell gravely ill. For three months, he was unable to urinate or defecate, and he thought he was going to die. The constant beatings left him with deep cuts on his head and arms, which never received proper medical attention. He wore the same clothes for an entire year and was only allowed to bathe three times.

Despite his condition, Solomon found solace in prayer. “At some point, I lost hope of coming out alive, but I still believed in God,” he said. He held on to the belief that one day, he would be rescued—and eventually, that day came.

The female NYSC member had her own share of suffering. She was held captive for two months before being freed in October 2023. Reflecting on the trauma, she admitted that she had never believed she could survive even one day in the forest.

For three weeks, she and others had no food or water. When the rains finally came, they were forced to drink flood water. Hunger and sickness became daily companions for her and her fellow captives. As a woman, the experience was even more difficult. She wore the same clothes for the entire two months, with no way to manage her personal hygiene. Even during her menstrual cycle, there was no option for clean-up or change.

The captors did not speak her language or English, so communication was almost impossible. Often, she had to rely on gestures or sign language to convey her needs or fears. But any wrong move or sign of defiance could result in a severe beating.

On August 22, 2024, after enduring over a year of captivity, Solomon was rescued by the Nigerian military in a successful operation. He had been separated from his fellow corps members, who were freed earlier in October 2023.

Upon their release, the NYSC gave the freed captives the option to either restart their service year or continue from where they left off. After their traumatic ordeal, the corps members chose to continue and not begin again. They have since received their discharge certificates.

Despite regaining their freedom, the trauma lingers. Now, the freed NYSC corps members are asking the federal and Akwa Ibom state governments to help them rebuild their lives. They are appealing for employment opportunities so they can support themselves and their families after everything they have gone through.

“We have suffered so much in the hands of these kidnappers, and we don’t want to remain idle,” said one of the freed corps members. They hope that employment in the civil service or other rewarding opportunities will help them move past the trauma of their captivity and begin a new chapter in their lives.