Graduates from Akwa Ibom State, who were kidnapped last year while traveling to their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) assignment in Sokoto State, have appealed to both the federal and state governments for employment assistance to help them recover from the trauma they endured.
The eight former corps members, along with their bus driver, were abducted on August 17, 2023, in Zamfara while en route to their NYSC camp. Their captivity, marked by torture, starvation, and constant fear, lasted for months, with the last victim, Solomon Daniel, being freed after more than a year.
During a gathering in Uyo on Thursday, several survivors shared the physical and emotional toll the ordeal had on them, with ongoing health challenges and post-traumatic stress still affecting their lives. Solomon Daniel, the last to be released, recounted how he was separated from the others because he could not pay the ransom, as his widowed mother was unable to afford the amount demanded. He described being transported through bush paths from Zamfara to Kaduna by motorcycle, guarded by over 10 armed men, until he was finally rescued by security forces.
Another victim, Victoria Bassey, shared the harrowing conditions they endured: “I never imagined I would survive such horrendous conditions. Even during our menstrual periods, we couldn’t bathe. We were forced to drink flood water to stay alive.” Another survivor, Etim Bassey, explained how their captors, disguised as military personnel, set up a fake checkpoint in Zamfara, where their bus was intercepted. “We thought it was a real checkpoint, as the area was blocked with logs and armed men in military uniforms, who then forced us into the forest,” he said.
The former corps members expressed deep gratitude to those involved in their release and called for employment opportunities and other forms of support from the government to help them rebuild their lives. They specifically thanked President Bola Tinubu, NYSC Director-General Gen Yusha’u Ahmed, Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno, security forces, and all Nigerians who contributed to their freedom.
Matthew Koffi Okono, Founder and President of the Open Forum Care for Humanity Foundation, which organized the forum where the survivors shared their stories, echoed their appeal for employment and urged the government to assist in their post-trauma recovery. He also called for reforms in the NYSC program, advocating for it to be more development-oriented and safer to enhance its role in nation-building.
