The survivor disclosed this in an interview with BBC Pidgin published on Monday, describing the harsh conditions the 20 abductees endured before their rescue.
According to the survivor, the kidnappers allowed them to call their families but threatened and assaulted them whenever their conversations displeased the gang.
“We were given phone to call our families. And if any family say anything wey dem no wan hear, or any rubbish wey go fit make dem angry, we will be beaten. That person will be beaten, use the gun to hit the person,” the survivor said.
The victim added that the male abductees were subjected to more frequent physical assaults, while the kidnappers appeared less willing to beat the women.
“Sometimes dem go use dia hand to punch dem, mostly the guys. Dem still dey fear small to beat woman,” the survivor said.
The 20 prospective corps members were abducted on October 1 while travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The incident occurred around 6:30am along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in the Umunoha area of Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, when gunmen attacked two buses conveying the travellers.
The kidnappers reportedly demanded ₦50m for each victim before the ransom demand was later reduced.
During the search for the abductees, the police said operatives located the kidnappers’ hideout through drone surveillance but encountered difficulties reaching the area due to suspected improvised explosive devices planted around the camp.
Security agencies subsequently intensified search-and-rescue efforts, deploying additional personnel and equipment.
The victims were rescued on October 7, seven days after their abduction, during a joint operation involving security agencies. They were subsequently taken for medical examinations and treatment.
Recounting the events leading to the abduction, the survivor said the group left Ibadan at about 9am and made several stops before arriving in Onitsha, where the driver announced that they would spend the night.
The survivor said the passengers had earlier urged the driver to continue the journey when they arrived in Ore to avoid delays.
However, the driver reportedly explained that they needed to rest in Onitsha because the next stage of the journey could be dangerous.
The passengers subsequently informed their families about the overnight stop before going to sleep. The survivor said they later woke up to find themselves in captivity.
“When I wake up, that na when the incident happen,” the survivor said.
The victim said the abductees were first taken to a forest where they stayed for some time before being moved deeper into an unfamiliar location.
“I bin no know how we take reach the forest where dem keep us for sometime, before we continue our journey to a deep-deep-deep forest that I don’t know how,” the survivor recounted.
Describing their feeding conditions, the survivor said the kidnappers gave them dry garri and muddy water, which they had no choice but to consume to stay alive.
“What we are eating there is just garri, like eba garri, dry garri with mud water, very dirty water that, hmm, I can’t even fit give my enemy that water, but we bin no get choice, we gatz take am for survival,” the survivor said.
The survivor said the experience left the abductees shocked and struggling to comprehend the ordeal they had endured.