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With the state’s efforts to combat insecurity in Nigeria producing outcomes through numerous arrests and removals from the bush, the bandits, conversely, have kept causing chaos among the population.

Recently, bandits targeted several rural schools in Oyo State. The incidents took place early on Friday, May 15, at Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, LA School, and Community Grammar School in Ahoro-Esinele, all located within the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. Some students were taken hostage, and one educator lost their life, intensifying concerns about the security of schools and rural areas.

This is the most recent of numerous attacks and kidnappings by bandits that have placed many rural communities in Nigeria, particularly in Borno, Katsina, Plateau, Zamfara, and Benue states, among others, at risk and filled with fear of being forced to leave their homes. These repeated incidents have also sparked worries about the safety of people’s lives and property in the country, as many captured individuals do not survive.

Victims who are fortunate enough to escape captivity often continue to live with fear, trauma, and social stigma due to the terrible experiences they endured at the hands of their abductors.

Talking to Iria Clement, a victim of a kidnapping that occurred some time ago, he initially became quiet, but stated that he preferred to avoid public questioning, describing the experiences he went through at the hands of bandits, rather than speak out and face stigma.

He mentioned that it is no longer surprising that kidnappings and bandit attacks have, perhaps, turned into a routine occurrence, as the news is constantly alarming and overwhelming.

As he explained, these violent incidents initially began as conflicts between herders and farmers, which then escalated into retaliatory attacks between the two groups. Eventually, this situation worsened into the kidnapping of individuals, with ransom demands being made, reportedly driven by herders in place of their lost livestock.

“Remember the conflicts were an early intense clash between farmers and herders that was later taken over by criminal gangs who transformed it into a multi-million naira business involving ransoms for captives,” he said.

However, the situation has turned chaotic as government and security agencies struggle to curb the growing epidemic, while the night-time aggressors have intensified their activities.

It is also evident that the media strives to report on attacks as they occur, yet research shows that many incidents go unreported because most take place in remote rural areas and isolated highways, often without any records.

Numerous victims have died during the process due to identity issues when no one steps in to assist, while others have been killed for failing to meet the kidnappers’ ransom requirements. For the small number of fortunate individuals who eventually escaped, the harsh trauma is better visualized than described.

Iria Enolumhon Clement, a Lagos State resident, was taken hostage and eventually escaped due to fortunate circumstances. On April 27, he left for Abuja for a business meeting.

Aware of the unstable conditions in the nation, he decided to journey during the day using public transportation for a twelve-hour trip. Despite being considered a safer option, it ultimately became a nightmare when the bandits, who had planned to operate unpredictably in the gray zones along the highways, seized their vehicle.

Iria, who had kept his experience private after being released, grew worried when the bandits who had his information started planning another attack by tracking, calling, and threatening his family. He chose to speak with the media about his situation while requesting maximum security for his loved ones.

“An ordinary business trip from Lagos to Abuja turned into a nightmare that still lingers with me. A journey that typically lasts 12 to 14 hours became a two-week ordeal in the grip of kidnappers deep within a dense forest,” said Iria.

He mentioned that he has continued to be affected by trauma ever since, as every day brings back memories of the anguish, terror, and hardship he endured at the hands of harsh entities.

Iria said, ‘The emotional scars are still fresh, and the memories continue to affect me.’

He described the events, stating that the trip was uneventful until their minibus, carrying eighteen passengers, reached a remote intersection on the Okenne-Lokoja highway in Kogi State during the evening.

I was seated in the front passenger seat alongside the driver. At that location, we spotted a checkpoint manned by five young men in military uniforms carrying weapons. Our assumption was similar to what we had encountered at previous checkpoints along the route, but to our great surprise, the group moved with remarkable speed, contrary to what we expected.

As one of them moved toward the driver’s side, the others rushed to the passengers and told everyone to get out. They quickly revealed their identities without hesitation and instructed everyone to remain silent, leading us slowly into the bushes.

“The aftermath was beyond comprehension. I was forced to walk endlessly through the forest all night until morning. Terror took over me. Each step felt as if I was heading towards my demise,” Iria mourned.

He revealed that he spent more than a week in the kidnappers’ hideout before being freed. “For ten terrifying days, I was trapped in the kidnappers’ hideout under awful conditions, experiencing pain, doubt, and continuous fear. Due to my eye condition, the agony was even harder to bear. After significant pressure and discussions with my family by the criminals, they had to pay a ransom of ₦20 million before I was released,” said Iria.

Iria stated that although he survived and was deeply shaken, a part of him stayed behind in the forest, as this was his first encounter with bandits.

His situation is part of numerous ongoing incidents in the country that remain unobserved. Bandits and kidnappers associated with herders have kept attacking various isolated villages in Kwara, Kogi, Ondo, Ekiti States, and more recently in Oyo communities. It is also alarming that these criminals have deliberately embedded themselves among rural residents, making it challenging to identify them, as seen in the attacks in Niger State.

Nevertheless, intelligence organizations have also increased their actions to disable, capture, and maintain close monitoring of the rebels.

Numerous groups in Nigeria have launched extensive campaigns and requested assistance from global organizations.

With the ongoing battle against insecurity, people, particularly those who travel, are filled with fear, similar to how those living in rural areas are unsure of when and where the next attack will occur.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).