Freed Law Student Recounts Ordeal in Captivity, Exposes Local Involvement in Kidnapping

A freed law student has narrated the harrowing experience endured while in the custody of kidnappers, describing conditions of extreme hardship and unexpected revelations about the perpetrators. The victim disclosed that captors forced them to drink dirty water and survive on just one meal a day throughout the period of captivity.

According to the student, the ordeal began with what initially seemed like another case of banditry often blamed on Fulani herders. However, evidence emerged during the abduction that challenged that narrative. “The people who claim that the Fulani are killing and kidnapping them were the ones actually responsible,” the survivor explained during a debriefing.

The victim’s testimony aligns with growing concerns in the region about the true identity of some attackers. Local officials, including the governor of the affected state, have consistently voiced alarm over persistent cases of abduction and killings, often attributing them to Fulani herders. Yet, the student’s revelation suggests that individuals within the community may be complicit. As reported by the survivor, “Even the governor of the state has been lamenting that Fulani were the ones carrying out attacks and kidnapping people in the state. But it is in their backyard that their people were involved in the abduction.”

Security analysts say such disclosures raise questions about the complexity of insecurity in parts of Nigeria. While some incidents have been linked to nomadic groups, there are increasing reports suggesting that local criminal gangs exploit the situation by disguising their activities under the same narrative. An eye witness report further highlighted that victims are often subjected to inhumane treatment, including starvation, unhygienic conditions, and psychological torture.

The freed law student emphasized the degrading conditions in which captives were held, underscoring the urgent need for stronger intervention. Human rights advocates argue that the government must act swiftly to investigate not only the kidnappers but also the networks enabling them to operate.

This development has once again drawn attention to the need for comprehensive security reforms, community sensitization, and intelligence-driven policing. While authorities continue to point fingers at external groups, testimonies such as this underline the necessity of looking inward to dismantle homegrown criminal networks thriving within local communities.