
Kidnappers starved me of food, water for five days, says corps member
A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Abasifreke Joseph, kidnapped on January 9,2025 along Enugu-Ezike Road on her way to Kogi State, has disclosed that her abductors starved her of food and water for period she was in captivity.
Penpushing reports that she made this known while narrating her ordeal when the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Sam Pepple, visited her, adding that the five days she spent with the abductors she was also tortured
The victim recalled that she was abducted alongside some other colleagues, beaten and disposed of their mobile phones and other valuables, expressing dismay that the kidnappers asked driver conveying them to go unhurt and was not taken hostage
“I spent five days and five nights at the kidnappers’ den without water and food. I was posted to Kogi for the NYSC programme. I reported at the orientation camp and was sworn in on 29 November 2024’, she explained.
“I became sick while the orientation course was ongoing, so I got the permission and approval of the camp director to travel home for medical attention. I was returning to Kogi on 9 January (when) the incident happened at about 4.30 p.m. along Enugu-Ezike Road in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area (of Enugu State)’, she said.
Penpushing further reports that Abasifreke who was released on January, 13, 2025 in her narration said that while on the journey, a motorcycle rider informed them of an armed robbery attack in front, adding that the driver conveying them turned deaf ears.
“Surprisingly, the driver of our bus did not listen. He kept going forward until we met the kidnappers. When they started shooting, our driver quickly came down from the vehicle, opened the door and asked us to run into the bush. It also surprised us that the kidnappers asked our driver to go unhurt. He was not taken hostage’, she recalled.
Penpushing also reports that the corps member expressed her appreciation to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) authorities for their prompt response and solidarity during her ordeal.
The Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) earlier in his remarks thanked God for sparing the corps member’s life and expressed the commitment of the authorities towards the safety of members.
“As soon as we were informed of the incident, we acted to ensure her safe release. We are happy that she is back with her family. The NYSC is a responsible organisation. We ensure adequate care for our members. We treat corps members as our children, so NYSC knows what to do for her. I have seen her; she is in high spirits and in good condition, which is different from what is being reported on social media’, he said.
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