Gonoh Michael, a farmer from Okpella in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, recounts his harrowing 12-day ordeal in the hands of kidnappers. Speaking to TEMITOPE ADETUNJI, he details the fear, hunger, and harsh conditions he endured, the role of faith in keeping him strong, and warns of the rising wave of kidnappings in his community

Before this incident, how would you describe your life?

My name is Gonoh Michael. I am in my late 30s and come from Okpella in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. I am a furniture maker and also a farmer.

Before this incident, I would describe my life as simple and peaceful. I believe in hard work and making the most of each day. I don’t like idleness. I enjoy being productive, whether making furniture or tending my farm. There’s a unique joy in creating something with your hands. I can spend hours shaping wood and then move to the farm to check my crops. Farming gives me peace; watching what you plant grow brings a deep sense of fulfilment.

My life was balanced. I had little, but I was content. I slept peacefully at night, free from fear. I am married and was surrounded by loved ones. That was my life before everything changed.

Take us back to that day and how the incident unfolded.

It was October 28, 2025, a day that began like any other. I woke early and headed to my farm, eager to use the cool morning hours. I was bent over weeding, completely focused on my crops, when I sensed someone behind me. I turned and saw a man dressed in black standing silently.

Before I could react, he rushed forward and grabbed me. I struggled at first, but he spoke in Hausa, and almost immediately, eight more men emerged from the bush. They surrounded me with guns. That was when I realised I was in grave danger. They tied my hands, pushed me further into the forest, and warned me not to shout.

I was the first person they captured because I was alone, but later, they apprehended other farmers nearby. By the end of the day, six of us were in their custody.

At what point did you realise it was a kidnapping?

When I saw the guns and the number of men surrounding me, I knew it was a kidnapping. Everything happened so fast. I had only heard of such incidents happening to others; I never imagined it would happen to me.

When they dragged me into the bush and I realised we were moving away from the town, fear truly took hold.

How long were you held in captivity?

We were held for 12 days. Those days felt like 12 years; every second in that forest was endless pain.

Can you describe the environment you were taken to?

We were taken deep into a forest few people may ever see. Okpella has vast forests, and the kidnappers know them like the back of their hands. I was kidnapped from the eastern side of town, near Ibie, but when we were released, we emerged from the western side, near Okene.

We walked through thick bush where sunlight barely penetrated, crossed streams and thorny undergrowth. The place was silent, like another world — no cars, no signs of life, only nature and fear.

What were the living conditions like?

The conditions were terrible. For the first three days, we were given no food and became weak and dizzy. When they eventually provided a small quantity of garri, it felt like a royal meal because we were so hungry. Afterwards, food was sparse and irregular.

We slept on bare ground without mats or blankets, and water was scarce. Mosquitoes were everywhere, nights were cold, and our clothes were dirty and torn. It was a truly painful experience.

Were the captors violent or threatening, and did they make demands?

Yes, they were violent and threatening. Their goal was to extract money from our families. They beat us, threatened us, and forced us to call relatives to beg for ransom. They treated us like objects, not human beings.

Did anyone among the captives show courage or leadership?

We were all from Okpella, and everyone showed courage in their own way. We encouraged each other, prayed together, and stayed hopeful. When one person faltered, the others lifted their spirits. Our unity kept us alive.

What helped you stay mentally strong during those twelve days?

Faith. Only faith in God kept me going. There were nights I felt death was near, but I prayed silently, asking God to let me see my family again. That small hope was my anchor.

How did your release come about?

We were released after our families and community gathered the ransom, which included N4.5 million, crates of malt and milk, and new backpacks.

We were led partway through the forest, then told to walk to a specific river.

Crossing that river was one of the hardest moments; the water was cold, the forest silent except for our footsteps, and we felt eyes watching us. After a tense walk, we finally reached three men on bikes who took us the rest of the way. The abductors had disappeared, and we were free.

What was your immediate feeling when you realised you were free?

Relief mixed with disbelief. I felt weak and looked like a shadow of myself: clothes torn, body dirty, weight lost. But deep inside, I was grateful to be alive.

How are your fellow captives doing now?

They are also receiving medical care and recovering. Some faster than others, but all of us are thankful to be alive.

How are you feeling physically and emotionally now?

I’m recovering slowly, focusing on healing and rebuilding my strength. Emotionally, I’m adjusting and reminding myself that what happened is part of life. Each day feels better.

Do you feel you might need psychological support?

Honestly, no. I accept what happened as part of life. Painful memories come, but I remind myself that I survived. Time and faith are the best healers.

How have your family, friends, and community supported you?

Their support has been overwhelming. My family’s presence and care have sped up my recovery. It reminds me that humanity still exists and that no one stands alone in crisis.

Has this experience changed your perspective on life?

Yes, completely. I’ve learned that family is everything. Life is short, and each day is a gift. I no longer take anything for granted.

What would you like to say to the government and security agencies about kidnapping in your region?

The state government must urgently intervene to rescue Okpella. Protecting lives and property is their duty, as the law clearly states. Right now, that responsibility is not being fulfilled. People are afraid to even go to their farms. The government cannot stand by and watch things deteriorate.

They should deploy more troops to work alongside local vigilantes. These young men know the bush intimately and can guide soldiers to the kidnappers’ hideouts. The criminals operate in multiple groups across the forest, and with strength and proper planning, they can be neutralised. Drones could also be used to monitor the area. It shouldn’t take the loss of lives for action to be taken.

When a government fails to protect its citizens, it has failed in everything else. Okpella is the third-largest town in Edo State. We cannot be left like prey for criminals. Authorities must act now, before the situation spirals further out of control.

What are your hopes and intentions moving forward?

My greatest hope is for peace to return to Okpella. The situation is dire. Many people are hungry and afraid. Farms are abandoned, and hunger is spreading.

Every night, people sleep with one eye open. I want life to return to how it was, when people could go to their farms and return home safely. I also hope that responsible institutions, the media, churches, and civil society groups will continue to speak up until the government takes the right actions.

Even as I speak, kidnappings continue. Just yesterday, a kidnapping attempt failed because people noticed early and escaped. But this morning, another woman was abducted. It breaks my heart.

All we want is peace, safety, and a chance to live normal lives again. That is my prayer: that Okpella will know peace once more.

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Indian authorities have deported a Nigerian man, Onyeukwu Victor, for overstaying his visa and alleged involvement in drug peddling.

The Times of India reported that Victor was deported by the Hyderabad police on Wednesday.

According to the Hyderabad Narcotics Enforcement Wing, he arrived in India on a student visa in 2021 but continued to stay after it expired in 2024.

Victor reportedly contacted drug suppliers and delivered substances to customers in Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

“While he was moving around in Banjara Hills, we apprehended him. However, no drugs were recovered. During interrogation, he could not provide valid documents or explanations for his stay in Hyderabad.

“Upon thorough inquiry, it was confirmed that he did not hold a valid visa and had been overstaying,” the report stated.

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Twenty-seven-year-old Nkiruka Okeke, a mother of four, recounts to Grace Edema how her husband, Oluzuluike, was stabbed to death by suspected herdsmen while working near a stream in Obuovia community, Enugu State

What do you do for a living?

I sell okpa (a local delicacy made from Bambara nuts) along the Enugu expressway.

Where exactly do you live?

I live in Onoli community, also along the expressway in Enugu. It’s a small community where many people survive through petty trading, farming, and sand-dredging jobs. That’s where I lived with my husband.

How old was your husband before his death?

He was 33 years old. He did manual labour, mostly dredging and packing sand from streams or riversides for building purposes. He would take the sand to the roadside for buyers. It was hard work, but that was how he provided for our family.

Can you tell us what really happened to him?

Everything happened so suddenly. On Friday, October 3, he woke up early, and we spoke. He told me to prepare the children for school before leaving for work. I didn’t know that would be the last time I’d ever see him alive.

Not long after he left, a man ran to our house shouting my name, asking me to hurry. He said my husband had been taken to the hospital. I was confused and terrified. When I asked what happened, he said my husband was stabbed by herdsmen.

I ran straight to the hospital and saw my husband lying there. He managed to speak briefly and said, “The herdsmen stabbed me in the chest.” Those were his last words. After that, he couldn’t speak again.

The doctors said he needed to be transferred immediately to the University Teaching Hospital, but before morning, he died. That’s how I lost him.

Did you see the injury yourself?

Yes, I did. He was stabbed in the chest. That was the only wound on his body; there were no other injuries.

Did the herdsmen take anything from him?

No. His phone, bag, and work tools were all found where he usually worked. My husband was very careful. He kept his bag and money safely hidden whenever he worked. He only carried his shovel and basin when digging sand.

How did people find out he had been attacked?

After being stabbed, my husband managed to run to the roadside. He met a man who sells gas near the expressway and begged for help. He told the man that he was stabbed by herdsmen. That was all he could say before collapsing. The man quickly rushed him to the hospital.

By the time I arrived, he was still alive but very weak. He looked at me, repeated those words about the herdsmen, and then fell silent.

What time of day did the attack happen?

According to the doctor and witnesses, it happened around 1 p.m. He had eaten at a canteen near the expressway before going to work. The attack happened at Obuovia, near a stream where he usually worked.

It’s not a public stream for fetching water; it’s mostly surrounded by farmlands and not deep inside the bush. People go there to wash, fetch water for farm work, or bathe before going home. It’s close to the expressway and not far from where people live. That’s why I still don’t understand how nobody saw the attackers clearly that day.

Did your husband usually work alone?

Most times, yes. That was his usual spot. Some passersby knew him and often greeted him. That Friday, they saw him earlier in the day but later heard what had happened. The place isn’t far from where people farm or walk to the market.

Was he involved in any argument with anyone before the attack?

No, never. My husband was a peaceful man. He didn’t fight with anyone. If he had, maybe his body would have shown signs of struggle. But the only wound he had was the stab to his chest.

Do you think this attack was planned?

I don’t know. Sometimes I feel maybe they had been targeting him. That place is open, and people pass by often. Maybe they were hiding and waiting to attack someone. I just don’t know. But I believe God sees everything.

How would you describe your husband as a person?

He was kind and hardworking. He struggled every day to feed us. Even when we had nothing, he remained a good man. Losing him like this is unbearably painful.

You mentioned that you have four children. How old are they?

Yes, I have four children; three boys and one girl. My first child, a girl, is eight years old. My second, a boy, is seven. The third is four, and the youngest is three years and three months old.

How are your children coping emotionally with their father’s death?

It’s not easy. They cry sometimes. My second son is currently unwell; his temperature is high. I took him to the pharmacy, and they gave him an injection, but he’s still weak and not eating much. I want to take him to the hospital, but I don’t have the money right now.

That must be very hard for you. How have you been coping since your husband died?

It’s been extremely tough. I cry every day. Some neighbours bring food or money when they visit, that’s how we’ve been surviving. The children are still small; they don’t understand everything yet, but they know their father is gone.

Just yesterday, my daughter came home from school crying because they were asked to buy new textbooks. I told her to wait and assured her that God would help us.

One of my children’s teachers came with her husband. They spoke kindly to me, saying they understood my situation. But still, I don’t know how I will buy the books or pay their fees now. Everything depends on God.

Has your husband been buried?

Not yet. His body has been taken to his village for burial. The men in our kindred are handling it.

You mentioned that herdsmen have been disturbing the community. Can you tell us more?

Yes, they’ve been troubling us for a long time. They move around the farmlands, and nobody can go there freely. They destroy crops, and when people challenge them, they attack. Even now, everyone is afraid. Many people have stopped farming. If you go there, you might not return.

Have you personally seen them before?

I’ve seen some passing with their cows near the market area, but not the ones in the bush. Those in the bush don’t come out. I’ve only heard stories of them attacking farmers and chasing people away.

Do they allow their cows to eat people’s crops?

Yes, they do. Their cows eat everything: rice, cassava, yams, and even vegetables. Last year, my husband and I planted rice. When it was time to harvest, the cows destroyed everything. All our efforts were wasted. Most people have stopped farming now.

That must have affected your livelihood badly.

Yes, it has. Before, we used to eat from our farm. Now, we have to buy everything from the market. Even to eat, you need money. That’s why my husband continued with the sand-dredging job; it was our only source of income.

What is your community doing about this situation?

We have community leaders, but I don’t really know what they are doing. Sometimes they say they’re trying, but nothing changes. These herdsmen are still around. People are afraid to go to the police because they say the herdsmen have powerful backers. I just pray that this ends.

If you could speak directly to the government, what would you say?

I would beg them to come to our rescue. We are dying silently. The government should send security operatives to drive these herdsmen out of our villages. People are hungry, poor, and scared. There’s no safety, no farming, nothing.

The government we have now doesn’t care. All they think about are elections and votes. After you vote for them, they forget you. We are just suffering. Even if you cry, nobody listens. I have lost my husband, and many others are suffering the same pain.

Have you received any help from relatives or friends?

They come to console me, bringing little food or some money. But everyone is struggling. I can’t depend on them. I just keep praying that God will help me raise these children. It’s not easy at all.

What are your hopes for your children’s education?

I want them to go to school. That was my husband’s dream too. Even if I suffer, I will make sure they are educated. I don’t want them to go through what we did. I don’t know how I’ll pay their school fees now, but I believe God will send help.

I will try to persevere. Even if I have no one to depend on, I will keep my faith in God. It’s not easy, but I know He will help me raise my children.

What do you wish for right now?

All I want is justice for my husband and protection for people like us. We are not safe. If the government doesn’t act, more people will die. I also pray that God gives me the strength to take care of my children. I have no one else; my hope is in God alone.

Sometimes, I sit and wonder where to begin: school fees, food, rent, everything. It’s overwhelming. But I know God will not forsake me. I just pray this never happens to another woman. My husband did not deserve to die like that. He only went out to work to provide for his family.

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