The group of eight ex-corp members was traveling from Uyo to Sokoto for their NYSC orientation when they were kidnapped on a highway in Zamfara by gunmen disguised as military personnel. The kidnappers blocked the road with logs of wood, forcing the bus to stop. The corps members, along with their driver, were dragged into the forest.
One of the victims, Solomon Daniel, shared the harrowing details of his time in captivity. Daniel, who was held for a full year before being released in August 2024, described the torture he faced daily. “I went through a lot. I chewed leaves to survive and drank extremely dirty water. I was tortured every day from morning till evening. There were times I couldn’t even urinate or defecate for three months,” Daniel said.
He further revealed that his captors saw him as the “most stubborn” because he refused to pay ransom. His mother, a widow, was unable to raise the money the kidnappers demanded. As a result, he was separated from his colleagues, transported on a motorcycle through dangerous bush paths, and kept under heavy guard in Kaduna State for several months.
Now freed, the ex-corp members are suffering from various health issues and emotional scars. They have pleaded with the government to help them secure jobs to rebuild their lives. “We are grateful to President Bola Tinubu, Governor Umo Eno, the Director-General of NYSC, and the security forces for their efforts in rescuing us. But we still need help to truly heal,” they said.
Matthew Koffi Okono, head of the NGO that supported the victims, has also called on the government to reform the NYSC program to make it safer for participants.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
