Freed Kaduna Forestry Students Narrate 56 Days Horrific Experience in Kidnappers’ Den

Students of Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka Kaduna, who just regained freedom from bandits, who kept them in the jungle for 56 days have been reunited with their family members.

They said that they have forgiven their abductors, adding that they are praying for the bandits to change for better.

Recounting her experience in the kidnappers’ den, one of the freed students, Sarah Sunday said: “A lot of things happened while we were there. We passed though hunger, we were subjected to trekking and all sort of dehumanising things.

“We were insulted but fortunately, they did not molest any of us and they did not kill any of us. They only beat us on the first day when they did a video of us.”

Speaking about feeding in the jungle, Miss Sunday said: “The boys used to go and fetch water for us to cook. We normally cook Tuwo with miyan kuka, and Tuwo with dry okro. We only cooked rice once, and we cooked Spaghetti once too.”

Asked whether their abductors used to leave them and go out for other operations during their stay, she said, “yes, they used to go out but they always leave some of their armed gang members to stay with us.

“Even our male colleagues that used to go and fetch water, there are those that escort them to the stream with AK 47 rifles.

“Our living condition there in the jungle was very bad. We never had our bath. Rain used to beat us, even though there was a hut that we always run to yet rain would still beat us inside the poorly built hut.

“But we have forgiven our kidnappers. And we pray that God will give them chance to change for the better,” she said.

Another abductee, Zakariya Mohammed Magaji, said: “The bandits need prayers. All that we have to do is the pray for them for God to touch their hearts. As for me, I have forgiven them for whatever that we went through in their hands. The experience was hell.”