A survivor of kidnapping and banditry has shared a harrowing account of how hunger and thirst became daily battles during weeks spent in captivity, revealing the grim realities faced by abducted victims across Nigeria.
The survivor said he was kidnapped alongside 10 others and forced to trek deep into the forest from the first day.
According to his account, the long journey to the bandits’ hideout came with exhaustion and severe food deprivation.
Forced trekking and stolen farm produce
During the trek, the victims survived on food taken from nearby farms. The bandits reportedly ordered them to dig up yams and harvest maize, which was cooked on open fire and shared among the captives.
Upon arrival at the camp, conditions worsened. Some of the abductors brought raw rice, cooked without seasoning or oil, and poured it on a nylon bag for the victims to eat. The food, he said, barely went round before it was finished.
Overwhelmed by hunger and weakness, the survivor said the experience broke him emotionally and physically.
Food scarcity and shared water
After 22 days, he was transferred to another group, where meals consisted mainly of ground guinea corn prepared by an errand boy, sometimes with salt and sometimes without.
The survivor said meals were often limited to once or twice a day, while water was rationed severely, with several captives sharing a single litre.
The only relief came during long treks when they were occasionally allowed to drink more water.
Reflecting on the ordeal, the survivor said he still struggles to understand how he endured the hunger, thirst and uncertainty.
He expressed gratitude to God and his mother, whose sacrifices, he said, helped secure his return home.
His account has renewed conversations online about the brutal conditions endured by kidnap victims and the urgent need to address insecurity.
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