A PRISON WITHOUT BARS: WHO GOT THE VICTIMS RELEASED?

 

By Ekpor Temple

On Friday, April 18, 2025, a volcano of joy erupted across and beyond the Adventist church community as the news broke: our ten kidnapped youths had been released from the den of the notorious Herbs terrorists. The relief was electric, tangible, and sacred.

Why? Because in Nigeria, kidnapping cases rarely end well.

It’s a dicey, often deadly affair. Sometimes, ransoms are paid, yet the victims never make it home. In many cases, especially for women, survivors return with stories of rape, brutal torture, and unspeakable abuse, scarred physically and mentally, some beyond recognition, their bodies bearing gun wounds or wooden bruises. Other times, they return in caskets.

So yes, this rescue was different. It was miraculous. It was an answered prayer.

Come to think of it, there’s a deeply rooted spiritual conviction among us that heaven responds quickly when the church comes together in united prayer over a matter. It’s not just a ritual; it’s a powerful declaration of faith that when we petition, God hears us and moves in His perfect timing.

This particular united prayer marked the second time such was announced in less than a year. The first, however, ended in heartbreaking tears, a bitter loss that left many of us in grief, struggling to comprehend the depth of the sorrow that had come upon us. It was a loss that shook our spirits, and no amount of words could ease the pain.

But this time, as we gathered once again in prayer, the heavens responded in a way that none of us could have anticipated. Almost like a divine consolation for the previous tragedy of the past. And we embraced it with trembling gratitude. It was as though God, in His mercy, chose to heal our wounds with a moment of pure joy, restoring hope where there had been despair.

We received this answer with trembling hearts, not because the joy wasn’t real, but because it felt so overwhelming, like a balm to our weary souls. It was a reminder of God’s faithfulness, His ability to turn sorrow into rejoicing, and how He answers our prayers in ways that are beyond our understanding.

This joy, reignite the feeling that that even in the darkest of times, God’s light shines through.

But how did they manage to escape the terror of the notorious Fulani herdsmen? Was the Nigerian police able to rise to the occasion and fulfill their duty in the face of such an unimaginable crisis? How did the victims find their way to freedom, and who played the pivotal role in ensuring their release?

These are questions that have been on the minds of many, questions that stir a sense of urgency and curiosity.

I’m sure, dear reader, you’re sitting on the edge of your seat, eager to uncover the full, unvarnished truth behind this dramatic and life-altering ordeal. The tension, the uncertainty, the high stakes—this is not a story that can be told in haste.

However, I must admit, as much as I would love to answer all these burning questions in this moment, I’m afraid I must leave you with a cliffhanger. The full details, every twist, every turn, and the remarkable story behind their miraculous release will be unveiled in my next article.

So, until then, I ask for your patience. Trust me; the answers will be worth the wait.

Between the Bullet and the Trauma, the Blame Game Begins

It was no longer news that Nigeria’s roads had become highways of horror. Armed attacks, abductions, and senseless killings had turned ordinary journeys into deadly gambles. Insecurity wasn’t just a headline anymore, it was a national nightmare that crept into every conversation, every travel plan, every silent prayer before a road trip.

So, when the news broke last week that our students were kidnapped, the reaction followed a familiar script. While we vociferated in grief, among us, the blame game erupted like wildfire. In the heat of panic and pain, with adrenaline running high and emotions raw, everyone had someone to accuse.

Some pointed at the victims: Why did they travel by road? Didn’t they check the security situation before setting out? Others turned to the church: Why organize such a long-distance programme at a time like this? Still others laid it squarely on the feet of the security agencies. What happened to patrols? Where are the checkpoints on highways? What exactly is the role of the police, protecting lives, or extracting bribes from drivers at roadblocks? The government officials too, were called out for failing to fulfill the social contract of safety they promised during their campaign speeches.

Social media became a battlefield of opinions. I received many WhatsApp messages, group conversations, and Facebook threads; people unleashed frustration, dissected decisions, and demanded answers.  

These counterblames didn’t change what had happened. It didn’t erase the fear and battle our young youths felt and went through in the 42 hours of captivity.

But beneath all the noise, I deciphered something deeper: a nation struggling with helplessness, grasping for control in a situation that had long slipped through its fingers. Years of neglect, systemic failure, and political lip service had created a fragile environment where tragedy no longer shocked—it only confirmed what people already feared.

But beyond the blame game, what should we do going forward?

Be reminded that this kidnapping happened during the maiden edition of the GYC Conference in Nigeria. It was the first of its kind but certainly not the last. Everyone knew the roads were dangerous, but what alternatives did people have? Stay home forever? Our church organizes national, regional, and continental events that often require long-distance travel. So, do we cancel all such gatherings? Should leadership mandate armed escorts for all traveling departments of groups? Or do we simply continue to pray, trusting God to handle these road trips?

What exactly?

If Only You Could See Through Their Eyes…

While I leave you to answer that, what many don’t understand is what goes on in the mind of a kidnapped victim. That’s why we call it: “A Prison without Bars.”

I have read and watched how kidnapped survivors speak of nights that never ended, where hope flickered like a dying candle. Some recount the chilling silence, broken only by the gruff voices of their captors or the sound of someone else’s pain. Others speak of forced isolation, threats, or the mental torture of not knowing whether they would live to see another sunrise.

These were not far from what our Adventist students went through. If only you could peer into their minds, If you could sit with them, hear their trembling voices, and listen to the stories they struggle to tell, you would begin to understand the weight of their ordeal. These are not just stories of physical restraint, but of mental imprisonment. The fear, the helplessness, the darkness that never lifts, it was days of unrelenting torment.

As expressed in a chat with one of the recent kidnapped survivors, “When they dragged us from the bus, fear wrapped around every single breath I took. Time didn’t move, it just froze into endless hours of dread. I kept clinging to fading memories of home… my mother’s voice, the warmth of my bed, the sound of jokes with my friends. They felt like distant dreams, like dying lanterns in my mind. I wondered if any of us would live to tell this story”.

“Every footstep and strange conversation, whisper and murmur from the captors sent cold chills through my body. It was clear we were in for life… or death, he narrated.

Studies have shown that kidnapping victims often carry invisible wounds—psychological trauma that lingers long after physical chains are broken. Many battle anxiety, depression, nightmares, and post-traumatic stress for months, even years. The mind replays the horror like a broken record. Trust becomes a distant memory. The simple act of sleeping without fear becomes a luxury.

These experiences are not just heartbreaking; they are soul-wrenching. This is not a fate you would wish upon your worst enemy. Their healing journey is long, and in many cases, lonely.  

And unless you’ve walked in their shoes, you may never fully grasp the cost of their survival. These are scars that haunt for years, if not a lifetime.

ANTICIPATE: THE HARROWING ORDEALS OF KIDNAP VICTIMS – A MUST-READ!