Candidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), who were among victims of a recent kidnap operation have narrated sordid details in the hands of their kidnappers.
They spoke of torture, hunger and inhumane treatment in the course of their four days in captivity.
Recall that the kidnappers had struck last Wednesday along the Taraku–Otukpo road in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State targeting a Benue Links vehicle conveying passengers.
Security pressure forced the kidnappers to release their victims, eight of whom were candidates to the UTME.
They were eventually rescued on Sunday morning by security operatives following sustained pressure mounted on the kidnappers.
18-year-old Gbenda Daniels, one of the victims ssaid:
“They collected my N8,000. They beat us, and we didn’t eat anything; we only drank dirty water”.
According to Ngukulan Iornav, also 18, “They gave us garri and salt. I was thoroughly beaten”.
“We were taken into the bush and moved from one place to another. We didn’t eat anything on the first night because we were constantly on the move.
“On the second day, we survived on muddy water. On the third day, they gave us garri and forced us to start calling our families while beating us”, recounted Orih Raphael Sylvester, a medical student who had just completed his final examinations at the University of Maiduguri and was returning home to Otukpo before the incident.
Stating the victims were beaten at random, particularly those whose families could not immediately meet the ransom demands, he added:
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“We were later brought together in another location, given our phones and instructed to make more calls for our release.
“Early Sunday, around 4am, they eventually gave us directions to follow towards the express road, where we later encountered military personnel. It was a horrible experience. We eventually came out around Okete,” he added.
Other victims, Sunday Augustine, a 100-level accounting student of the Federal University of Lafia, and Akor Jessica had varying accounts of harrowing encounter with the kidnappers.
The accounts included severe beating, threats and infliction of injuries
“It was a nightmare. What we went through was too much. We were on our way to write our exams. They beat me with big sticks and machetes at will, but God saw us through,” Jessica added.
For a relative, Ochadgwuba Alexander, two of whose cousins – Emmanuel and Austin – were also adducted, said:
“It was a nightmare for us. The kidnappers demanded N10 million for each victim”.
According to him, he personally delivered a ransom of N3.4 million in cash, along with supplies valued at about N33,000, including Amstel Malt drinks and Hollandia yoghurt, to the kidnappers in the bush.
“After handing over the ransom, I contacted the military to help convey them from the point they emerged from the bush. I waited for about 40 minutes at Okete village before they were brought out,” Alexander added.
Initial reporting by Daily Trust
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