A rescued National Youth Service Corps member, David Ayodele, has recounted the terrifying ordeal he and other victims suffered after they were abducted by suspected kidnappers in Kogi State.
Ayodele disclosed that the kidnappers threatened to keep the victims in the forest for one month before killing them, while warning that anyone who attempted to move without permission would be shot.
The corps member was among 15 NYSC members and six other Nigerians rescued from a kidnappers’ den in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
According to Ayodele, the incident occurred while he and other corps members were travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja after completing their NYSC orientation programme.
He explained that he had completed his orientation at the NYSC camp in Bayelsa State and was returning to Abuja following his relocation. Organised vehicles were reportedly conveying corps members to different destinations when he joined a vehicle heading to Abuja.
However, their journey was abruptly interrupted when suspected kidnappers intercepted the vehicle.
Ayodele said the driver initially attempted to escape after the armed men appeared, but the kidnappers quickly took control of the situation.
He recalled that the attackers demanded to know who the driver was before forcing the occupants out of the vehicle.
According to him, the kidnappers fired several rounds into the air as they marched the victims into the surrounding forest.
The corps member said the victims were subjected to physical abuse during the forced journey into the bush, with the abductors allegedly flogging and kicking them as they moved deeper into the forest.
After walking for some time, the victims were taken to a bushy area where the kidnappers ordered them to sit down.
It was there, Ayodele said, that the abductors revealed their intention to keep the victims captive for an extended period before killing them.
He recalled that the kidnappers asked who among the victims wanted water before telling them that they would remain in the forest for one month and would eventually be killed.
The threat left the victims terrified and forced them to remain extremely cautious throughout their captivity.
Ayodele said the kidnappers also warned that anyone who moved without permission would be shot.
Because of the threat, he said none of the victims dared to move freely, as they feared being killed by their captors.
The victims were subsequently forced to continue walking through the forest for a considerable distance.
Ayodele described the journey as extremely frightening, saying the victims had to endure the uncertainty of not knowing when they would be rescued or what would happen to them.
Despite the difficult circumstances, the ordeal eventually came to an end when security operatives located and rescued the victims.
Ayodele expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Army and other security agencies involved in the operation, saying their intervention brought an end to the victims’ terrifying experience.
He specifically acknowledged the efforts of the military, police, Department of State Services and local hunters who participated in the rescue operation.
The incident has renewed concerns about the security challenges confronting travellers and NYSC members, particularly those moving through areas affected by kidnapping and other forms of criminality.
For the rescued corps members, what began as a routine journey after completing their mandatory orientation programme quickly turned into a life-threatening ordeal in the forest.
Ayodele’s account also highlights the vulnerability of corps members travelling between states, especially when they depend on organised transportation arrangements after completing their NYSC camp activities.
The successful rescue of the 15 corps members and six other victims provided relief to their families and loved ones who had been anxiously awaiting their safe return.
For Ayodele, however, the experience remains a painful reminder of how quickly an ordinary journey can turn into a fight for survival.
His account of being forced into the forest under gunfire, physically assaulted, threatened with prolonged captivity and warned of possible execution has provided a firsthand insight into the ordeal suffered by the victims before security forces eventually intervened.
The rescued corps member has since reunited with safety after the operation, while the authorities continue efforts to tackle kidnapping and other security threats in Kogi State and other parts of the country..
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
