As the second batch of five students of Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Kaduna state, were re-united with their parents on Friday, they have continued to recount their ordeals in the hands of their kidnappers.
Having released five captives on Monday made up of two females and three males, the kidnappers on Thursday further released four males and one female student.
According to one of them, AbdulGaniyu Aminu, this is the most harrowing experience of his life.
He said they were flogged almost every day by the bandits and hit with the butt of the gun, even as two of his siblings, Haruna and Adamu, were among the 39 Afaka students that were kidnapped.
The 25-year-old Aminu said during their captivity the bandits “refused to allow us to pray. Anytime we told them we wanted to pray they would not allow us.”
“During the four weeks that we were held captive we could not have a proper sleep. If the bandits didn’t flog us, they will use the bottom of their gun to hit us,” he said.
Speaking during the handing over of the students to the school authorities, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the government was elated over the release of the five students.
“Earlier five students were released and handed over to their parents. Today another five students were released bringing the total of those so far rescued to 10,” he said.
Receiving the students on behalf of the management, the provost of the college, Dr. Usman Bello, said, “We thank all the stakeholders that made this reunion possible. This is the second batch of the rescued students. I’m hopeful too that the remaining students will soon join us.”
