Rescued victims of last Wednesday’s Benue Links abduction, including candidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, have narrated their ordeal in captivity, describing days of torture, hunger and inhumane treatment.

PrimeTimes Nigeria understands that the victims were abducted along the Taraku–Otukpo road in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State while travelling for various engagements, including the UTME.

The passengers regained freedom on Sunday after spending about four days in the kidnappers’ den following sustained security pressure.

Governor Hyacinth Alia, who received them at the Government House in Makurdi, confirmed that eight of the victims were UTME candidates, while others were regular commuters.

An 18-year-old victim, Gbenda Daniels, while addressing newsmen, recounted how the kidnappers dispossessed him of his money and subjected them to harsh conditions.

“They collected my ₦8,000. They beat us, and we didn’t eat anything; we only drank dirty water,” he said.

Another victim, Ngukulan Iornav, also a UTME candidate, said the abductors fed them poorly.

“They gave us garri and salt. I was thoroughly beaten,” she said.

Orih Raphael Sylvester, a medical student of the University of Maiduguri, narrated that the victims were moved repeatedly within the forest to avoid detection.

He further stated, “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.”

He added that the kidnappers intensified pressure for ransom on the fourth day. Sylvester said the abductors later directed them towards safety as security forces closed in.

“Early Sunday, around 4 am, they eventually gave us directions to follow towards the express road, where we later encountered military personnel. It was a horrible experience,” he said.

Another victim, Sunday Augustine, a student of the Federal University of Lafia, said he sustained injuries during the ordeal.

Similarly, Akor Jessica described the experience as traumatic.

“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,” she said.