The armed bandits on June 10 stormed the school in the night and abducted staff and students of the school. After 28 days of being held captive, they all regained their freedom.
In a chat with The Nation, one of the students recounted how they were made to sleep in the open and under rain for 10 out of the 28 days they spent in the bandits’ den.
“We handed everything over to God when we realised that there was no way we could escape from the bandits’ camp. In fact, trying to run away was like endangering your life, because there were other camps in the forest whose operators would just capture you as a fresh victim.
We were made to and fetch water from a stream which is like a kilometer from our camp, but they would escort us to and fro with guns. So, when we understood the terrain, we realized that going to the stream to fetch water without our abductors was even risky for us because that would have exposed us to being kidnapped by members of other kidnap gangs.
Each time we went to the stream to fetch water, members of other gangs would just shoot into the air when they noticed our movement and our own escorts would respond by firing into the air too. So, that signified that if there were no such responses, the other people would simply understand that we had escaped from somewhere and just capture us.”
On how they were abducted from their school, the student said the bandits stormed their school premises at about 10:30pm and started marching them out and into the bush, some of them without shoes and clothes.
”We arrived a deserted community around 7:00am the following day, after walking through the forest throughout the night.
After arriving in that community, they called their colleagues from their camp to bring bikes. They then carried us on the bikes and we travelled for like another two hours before arriving at the camp. They know the terrain very well, so they move at dangerous speed through the bush. Some tumbled and the victims got injured. At that point, I was so eager to even get to their camp.
When we got there, they dropped us off and one of them said they should arrange welcome tea for us. I was happy because at that time, we were already very hungry, not knowing that they were talking about welcome beating. They beat us with cable and sticks that day. But, after that day, they didn’t beat us again except when we did anything that angered them.
For the first 10 days, we were sleeping in the open. We were drenched by rain and exposed to cold, mosquitoes and other dangerous insects. So, on the 11th day, we (the captives) just decided to build a hut for ourselves. We got all the materials from the forest there and built a hut, though assisted by those assigned to be guarding us.”
He said their captors were from the same group that abducted people from the Leprosy Centre in Zaria, saying that the victims met them in the camp.
”When we got to the camp, we met only one lady with our captors. Then with the nine of us from Nuhu Bamalli, we became 10. But by the time we were released, we left I think 11 or 12 people in the jungle.
“The mother of the lady we met paid a ransom of N2.5million too, but instead of the bandits to release her, they held the person who brought the ransom too. They even collected the bike of the Okada rider that brought him. So, we became 11 in the camp before they now brought the 10 people who were kidnapped from the Leprosy Centre. So, we left all of them there.”
Speaking about the feeding, the survivor said, the gang leader brought a bag of foreign rice, beans and oil on their first day on camp, which they later finished, but he brought another one immediately.
“We used to cook for ourselves. The ladies among us handled the cooking, while we fetched water and firewood for the ladies. Those guarding us used to cook too when they were hungry.”the survivor said.
He said the forest was full of criminals including the kidnappers and those supplying them with food, drugs and ammunition.
At 31, Lagos-born Espago is redefining what it means to be a late bloomer in the Nigerian music
space. After spending years as a chef, designer, and farmer, Espago turned to music just a year
ago on a journey sparked by deep loss, life experience, and self-discovery.
What makes him different? It’s not just his sound, it’s his story. Espago brings a calm but
confident energy that mirrors his Lagos upbringing: a blend of vibrant Fuji rhythms and soulful
Afrobeat traditions like King Sunny Ade, shaped by global legends like Michael Jackson and
Celine Dion. His voice? Professionally trained. His brand? Stylish, grounded, and intentional.
Espago didn’t wait for the industry to find him; he found his own way in, teaching himself,
searching out producers, and building his identity from scratch. With no major label backing and
no big-name features, he has still built a brand marked by boldness, emotion, and Lagos street
authenticity.
He’s not just making music; he’s building a lifestyle brand. His creative roots are in food,
fashion, and music fused into something richer than just a “sound.” It’s a full experience. While
he hasn’t performed live yet, he’s putting in the work behind the scenes, mentoring new artists,
recording regularly to sharpen his voice and brand for bigger stages ahead.
In a scene dominated by speed, Espago’s journey is about intentional growth, honest
expression, and emotional connection.
As the new class of Afro‑HipHop begins to take shape, Espago stands out not just for what he’s
making, but for who he is becoming.
Rising artist Derriq isn’t just making music for entertainment; he’s building a legacy rooted in culture, resilience, and pride. The Lagos-based Afro-soul and Afrobeats singer has his eyes set on something bigger than streaming numbers: putting his hometown of Benin City on the global creative map is his dream.
A native of Edo State, Derriq’s musical journey began as a child organizing school parties just for the chance to perform. Since then, he’s gone from studio assistant to full-fledged artist, releasing impactful tracks like “Position,” “Vibration,” and “Confidence.” His sound, described as smooth, calm, and party-ready, reflects the duality of his personality: laid-back yet determined, quiet but powerful.
Derriq is more than just a promising name on Nigeria’s growing music roster; he’s a symbol of the next generation of artists who blend regional identity with global appeal using his distinctive voice, a strong sense of direction, and his signature slang “Yehboo! Yezaiii!” making waves among fans, Derriq is proving that cultural authenticity still cuts through the noise.
His next single, “Omo n’ Ogie,” is a tribute to his heritage and a signal that he’s just getting started. Keep your eyes on Derriq, he’s not just singing for the moment, he’s singing for a movement.
Follow @DerriqMusic on all social platforms
For interviews and press: derriqmusic@gmail.com
Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:
1. President Bola Tinubu will address the nation in a broadcast today, Sunday, August 4, 2024. Mr Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, announced this in a statement, on Saturday, saying the broadcast would hold at 7am.
2. The Commissioner of Police in Borno State, Yusuf Lawal, on Saturday confirmed the killing of four persons along Baga Road in Maiduguri, Borno State during the nationwide #EndBadGoverment protest. He said Boko Haram elements infiltrated the protesters and killed four persons on Thursday with explosives at a filling station.
3. Many persons have been feared killed while others sustained injuries as hoodlums clashed with security operatives in Kano. It was gathered that Rijiyar Lemo, Kurna to Bachirawa areas in Fagge Local Government, Kofar Nassarawa in Kano municipal and Unguwa Uku area of Tarauni Local Government are the worst hit areas.
4. The leadership of the organised labour, on Saturday, warned the Nigeria Police Force and other security forces to stop what it described as a “massacre” of protesters carrying out nationwide demonstrations against hunger in the land.
5. Leading Human Rights group, Amnesty International Nigeria, has said over 50 protesters were arrested in Abuja on the third day of the demonstration against hardship in the land.
6. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has urged the police and other security agencies to stop shooting and killing protesters demanding good governance in Nigeria. Atiku in a statement on Saturday, questioned the professionalism of the security agencies in the handling of the ongoing demonstrations.
7. Some of the organisers and supporters of the ongoing protest have set up pages to raise over N4bn through GoFundMe, a popular online crowdfunding platform. A check on Saturday showed that a total of N4.1bn had been benchmarked to be donated through accounts created by three GoFundMe users.
8. Tragedy struck again in Imo State on Saturday evening when some gunmen reportedly shot dead the President-General of Umucheke Okwe autonomous community in Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State, Hyginus Ohazurike. Six village heads from the autonomous community were also allegedly killed by the gunmen.
9. The Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh has said his men were not responsible for the death of a teenager in the Kubwa area of the FCT. In a viral video, a man claimed that police, while dispersing protesters, shot dead a teenager in the Kubwa area.
10. The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu has said President Bola Tinubu is keeping an eye on the ongoing #EndBadGovernance demonstrations across the country.
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