A corps member, Ibi Bemdoo Philip, has recounted his harrowing experience in the den of kidnappers.

Phillip was abducted on September 30th in Edo State while travelling to his NYSC orientation camp in Akure, Ondo state on September 30.

In a post shared on Facebook, Phillip gave a detailed account of how the abduction occurred, the torture he suffered, and how he eventually regained his freedom after a ransom was paid.

His post reads

''FROM THE VALLEY OF DEATH TO A TESTIMONY OF LIFE: MY KIDNAP EXPERIENCE AND GOD'S FAITHFULNESS

"When all hope seemed lost, God gave us hope again."

30th September 2026 will forever remain a memorable day in my life. It was the day an ordinary journey to begin my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme turned into an experience I will never forget.

I boarded a Benue Links Nig. Ltd. bus with 14 other people, making 15 of us, including the driver. I was the only prospective corps member travelling to the NYSC orientation camp in Akure, Ondo State, while the others were travelling to Ibadan for their personal businesses and other reasons.

At first, the journey was going smoothly. Little did I know that what lay ahead would test my faith, strength, and hope in ways I had never imagined.

When we got to Ibilo, Edo State, we were ambushed by kidnappers. The driver and two other people managed to escape, but the remaining 12 of us were taken captive.

From there, our ordeal began. We were taken towards Okene in Kogi State, trekking through the Savannah for days. We slept on the bare ground and rocks exposed to the weather, with little food and no idea what would happen to us next. We were later moved to a mountain, where we remained under the control of our captors.

THE NIGHTMARE BEGAN

On Friday, 2nd October, negotiations for our release began at about 7 p.m. We were given phones to call our families and tell them what was happening.

I called my father, Chief Sunday Ibi, and Ols Sally Sewuese Ukule, who was my course representative during our undergraduate days at Benue State University, Makurdi. I told them the kidnappers were demanding ₦50 million as ransom. The amount was later reduced to ₦30 million, but that was where the negotiations ended that night.

Immediately, my father, and my then course representative, my family, friends, and other concerned individuals began looking for ways to raise the money.

My father did everything he could. He barely rested as he desperately tried to find a way to bring me home safely. My family and other relatives were also doing all they could, holding on to hope even when the situation seemed impossible.

For four days, we endured heavy rain. Sometimes, it rained in the morning and again in the evening, leaving us exposed and uncomfortable in the wilderness.

One of the kidnappers collected my identity card and saw the address written on it, which was opposite B Division Police Station. He accused me of being a police officer and began beating me because of that suspicion.

It was a terrifying experience, especially knowing that there was little I could do to defend myself. One of the man who was kidnapped with us understands Hausa so he explained to him that my house was only close to the Police Station.

WHEN THE RANSOM NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUED

As the negotiations continued, the kidnappers reduced the ransom demand, first to ₦20 million and later to ₦10 million.

Whenever we were allowed to call our families, the calls were put on loudspeaker so the kidnappers could hear every conversation, we were only allowed to speak English. We were asked how much our people had been able to raise.

At one point, I called my father, and he told me he had ₦500,000. The kidnappers became angry because they wanted to hear millions, not thousands. That day, I was severely beaten.

When my father later mentioned N700,000, I became afraid of what might happen to me if I repeated the amount. When I was asked what he had said, I told them N1 million.

During this period, our feeding was uncertain. On the first day, we ate nothing. On subsequent days, we were given rice and beans, and sometimes garri.

Meanwhile, our families were fighting their own battle outside the forest.

My relatives and the relatives of the other victims approached Benue Links Nig. Ltd., hoping the company would help them secure our release. However, they were told that the DSS had advised the manager not to communicate with the kidnappers, of which the DSS were not aware of anything likewise the Commissioner of Police

The families had hoped for assistance, but they still had to find a way forward themselves.

They refused to give up. Some people sold valuable belongings and made painful sacrifices, doing everything within their power to raise the money demanded for the release of their loved ones.

MY FATHER NEVER GAVE UP

As the days passed, my father continued to plead and negotiate with the kidnappers.

On Monday, he told them he had raised ₦1.5 million. By Tuesday, 6th October, he had managed to raise ₦1.7 million. The kidnappers asked him to make it ₦2 million so he could come and pay the ransom for my release.

Imagine being held captive while knowing that your father was doing everything possible to save you, yet the money being demanded was far beyond what he could easily afford.

I could only imagine the pain, fear, sleepless nights, and emotional burden my family was carrying.

Eventually, the families of the kidnapped victims were instructed to gather whatever money they had and travel to Lokoja. They arrived on Wednesday, 7th October, but because they did not arrive on time, the kidnappers postponed the collection until the following day, Thursday, 8th October.

When they arrived in Lokoja, they were later redirected to Okene, Kogi State.

THE DAY WE FINALLY WALKED TO FREEDOM

On Thursday, 8th October, we were moved from where we had been kept in the wilderness around Okene to another location near the place where the ransom was to be paid.

Five kidnappers went with their leader to collect the money, while three remained behind to watch over us.

When the people bringing the ransom arrived, they were directed to the agreed location. The money was brought down from the vehicle, and they were instructed to drive the vehicle back towards the road, which was a considerable distance away.

After checking that everything was complete, the kidnappers called those guarding us and told them to bring us out because the matter had been settled.

We were finally released!

After everything we had endured, the head of the kidnappers even gave each of us ₦2,000 and told us to leave quickly.

We walked a long distance with the people who had brought the ransom before we eventually reached the road and left the area.

It was a moment I can hardly explain. After days of uncertainty, hardship, and fear, we could finally breathe freely again.

THE MOMENT FEAR LOST ITS HOLD ON ME

The first day I was kidnapped, I was afraid. I was human, and I did not know what would become of me.

But as the days passed, something changed within me. By Friday, 2nd October, I found myself holding on to God's Word. Even in the middle of that frightening situation, I began to find comfort in a scripture I had known for a long time.

The words that kept coming to my mind were:

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

Psalm 23:4 (KJV)

I could not see what the future held. I did not know how or when I would be released. But deep within me, I held on to the belief that God had not abandoned me.

I was surrounded by uncertainty, but I chose to keep my faith alive.

Looking back, I realise that faith does not always mean you understand what is happening around you. Sometimes, faith means holding on to God when everything around you gives you a reason to lose hope.

My journey to NYSC orientation camp became a journey through one of the darkest experiences of my life. I left home expecting to begin a new chapter, but instead, I found myself in a situation I would never have imagined.

Yet, in the midst of it all, I held on to God.

When all hope seemed lost, God gave me hope.

I am sharing this story because it is a part of my life that I will never forget. It reminds me of how fragile life can be, how much our families are willing to sacrifice for us, and how important it is to hold on to faith when life takes an unexpected turn.

I went through the valley, but the valley did not have the final say.

To God be the glory.''