A prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member abducted in Imo State has recounted how she and other captives allegedly endured beatings, threats and severe deprivation while being held in a forest.
In an interview, the survivor said the kidnappers provided them with garri and dirty, muddy water, leaving the victims with little choice but to consume what was available to survive.
“What we are eating there is just garri. Like Igbo garri, dry garri with mud water. Very dirty water,” she said, describing the conditions in captivity.
She also alleged that the abductors beat victims when conversations with their families failed to meet the kidnappers’ expectations during telephone calls concerning ransom negotiations.
The survivor recounted that she had been travelling with other passengers from Ibadan when their journey was interrupted. She said she later found herself in a forest under the control of the kidnappers.
The incident involved 20 prospective corps members and another passenger who were reportedly abducted on October 1, 2026, along the Owerri–Onitsha Road near Umunoha in Imo State. They were travelling towards NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The victims were reportedly released on October 7 after spending several days in captivity. The survivor expressed appreciation to the authorities and security personnel involved in securing their freedom.
Her account has renewed concerns about the safety of travellers on Nigerian highways and the continuing threat of kidnapping. Beyond the ransom demands, the reported treatment of the victims highlights the physical hardship and psychological distress that abduction survivors may endure.
The incident also reinforces calls for sustained security operations, improved protection for road users and the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for such crimes.
