Freed Corps Members Recount Harrowing Ordeal in Zamfara Kidnappers' Den, Appeal for Employment

Three of the eight corps members from Akwa Ibom State who were kidnapped in Zamfara State while traveling for their mandatory one-year national service have shared their harrowing experiences. Held captive for periods ranging from two months to a year, they have now returned home.

In an interview on Thursday organized by Matthew Koffi Okono, Founder of the Open Forum Care for Humanity Foundation, the freed corps members—two men and one woman—recounted their ordeals. They described being tormented, forced to eat grass, and given flood water to drink during their captivity.

One of the victims, Solomon, explained, "The incident happened on August 17, 2023, along Gusau Road in Zamfara State. Our vehicle was stopped by a roadblock of logs, which we mistook for a checkpoint. Armed men, some wearing kaftans and others in military camouflage, emerged and led us into the bush. A few managed to escape, but the rest of us, including the driver, were taken."

During their time in captivity, they slept on rice sacks in the open forest and endured exposure to harsh weather. Solomon shared, "For three weeks, we had no food or water. I was beaten, tortured, and forced to eat grass and drink flood water. I suffered a tear on my head and arms from the beatings and lacked medical care. At some point, I lost hope of coming out alive, but I still believed in God."

Another victim recounted, "I was held for two months and gained freedom in October 2023. We drank flood water when it rained because there was nothing else. Communication with our captors was difficult as they did not understand English or even pidgin. As a lady, I wore the same piece of clothing throughout the ordeal, even during my period, with no opportunity to clean up."

The victims expressed gratitude to the military, the federal and state governments, NYSC, and others for facilitating their freedom. NYSC provided them with the option to continue their service or start afresh. They chose to continue and have now received their discharge certificates.