A Nigerian Woman Shares Her Harrowing Experience in the Kidnappers’ Den
In a heart-wrenching Facebook post shared on February 21, 2025, Nka Jess Nka, a woman from Abuja, Nigeria, recounted the horrific ordeal she endured when she was kidnapped along with her aunt and several other victims. The chilling details she shared about the violence she witnessed and the emotional toll it took on her family offer a glimpse into the horrifying reality of abductions that have become a growing concern in parts of Nigeria.
In her post, Nka shared the agonizing memory of her aunt’s brutal killing right in front of her. The emotional weight of her words speaks volumes about the trauma that kidnapping victims and their families endure.
“My heart is full of pain today because today is the day that you were killed, auntie, right in front of me,” Nka wrote in her emotional post. “I’m here typing and wishing I had the power to protect you from those heartless kidnappers, but it is beyond my power.”
These words capture the devastation that Nka felt in the aftermath of witnessing the senseless death of her aunt. While words can never fully convey the emotional weight of this experience, Nka’s message reveals the deep sense of helplessness that accompanies such traumatic events. The victim’s family is left grappling not only with the loss of their loved one but with the unresolved questions and bitter realities of such criminal acts.
Nka’s message was a call to her family, friends, and the public. She shared a powerful sentiment about justice, expressing her belief that those responsible for her aunt’s death will not escape punishment. “To anyone whose hands are involved in our kidnapping, they will never go unpunished,” she boldly proclaimed. “God will fight for our family and bring healing to our hearts, though it is not easy.”
This abduction, which occurred last year, had a lasting impact on Nka’s emotional well-being. In a previous Facebook post from January 30, 2025, Nka shared the anniversary of her escape from captivity, expressing her gratitude for being alive. “Lord, I’m here to thank you for showing me mercy,” she wrote. “Thank you for keeping me alive.” For Nka, each new day of survival was a reminder of the nightmare she had endured.
She also took the time to thank her supporters who had stood by her during the traumatic period. “I want to thank everyone for your prayers and support during the time of my kidnapping. I didn’t take it for granted,” Nka wrote. This message underscored the critical role that social media, family, and community support play in helping victims cope with the aftermath of traumatic experiences.
Nka also spoke about the immense emotional pain she continues to endure as she grieves the loss of her aunt, a woman she had loved deeply. “To my auntie that couldn’t make it alive, I’m in tears every now and then. I miss her greatly,” she wrote, revealing how grief continues to consume her, even months after her release.
The kidnapping Nka and her aunt experienced is not an isolated case but part of a broader trend of rising abductions in Nigeria, particularly in areas like Abuja, Lagos, and northern regions. Kidnapping has become one of the most serious threats to public safety, with criminals targeting not only wealthy individuals but also ordinary citizens. Kidnappers often demand ransom, and the victims’ lives hang in the balance until the money is paid.
The Nigerian government has made some efforts to combat this rising trend, but the overall success in curbing kidnappings has been minimal. Kidnappers have become more sophisticated, and many families, like Nka’s, are left in anguish without proper support from the authorities.
According to recent statistics, there has been a steady increase in the number of kidnappings reported in Nigeria over the past decade. In 2024 alone, hundreds of cases were reported, many of which resulted in the deaths of innocent victims. The growing level of violence involved in these kidnappings—such as the brutal killing of Nka’s aunt—is a disturbing trend that raises serious questions about law enforcement’s ability to combat this issue effectively.
While much of the focus on kidnapping is on the criminal elements involved, it is essential to consider the psychological and emotional trauma experienced by survivors like Nka. For many, the memories of captivity, the loss of loved ones, and the constant fear for their lives can lead to long-term mental health challenges.
Nka’s grief is evident in her social media posts. Despite being physically freed from captivity, she remains emotionally tethered to the traumatic experiences she lived through. The pain of losing a loved one so violently, coupled with the helplessness of not being able to protect her aunt, is something that survivors of kidnapping struggle to overcome.
Survivors often face symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including flashbacks, nightmares, and emotional numbness. For many victims, simply returning to a sense of normalcy after such an event can feel insurmountable. The scars of violence, the fear of further danger, and the grief of losing a loved one are burdens that these victims must carry for the rest of their lives.
Many kidnappers operate with the sole purpose of extorting money from the victims’ families, and the brutal killings of those who cannot afford to meet ransom demands have become all too common. In Nka’s case, the act of murdering her aunt in front of her may have been a brutal means of maintaining control or sending a message to the family about the seriousness of their demands.
It is not uncommon for kidnappers to make exorbitant ransom demands, with victims being held in deplorable conditions until the money is paid. The threat of violence is ever-present, and when families cannot come up with the money or when authorities intervene, kidnappers may resort to murder, as tragically happened to Nka’s aunt.
The rise of organized criminal gangs involved in kidnapping and extortion has made it increasingly difficult for law enforcement to tackle the problem. Many of these gangs have access to sophisticated weapons and tactics, making them a formidable adversary to security agencies that are already overwhelmed with the challenges of other types of crime.
Despite the overwhelming sense of powerlessness that accompanies kidnapping, Nka’s determination to seek justice for her aunt’s death is evident. In her posts, she demanded that those responsible for the crime be brought to justice. This sentiment reflects the broader frustration that many victims’ families feel as they wait for accountability.
For many families, justice is not just about bringing the perpetrators to trial—it is about restoring a sense of dignity and closure. It is about ensuring that the person responsible for taking a loved one’s life will not be allowed to escape the consequences of their actions.
Unfortunately, the Nigerian legal system has long struggled to bring about swift justice in cases of violent crime. In many cases, the perpetrators are never caught, or if they are, the trial process is long and marred with delays. Survivors like Nka continue to live with the uncertainty of whether the criminals who harmed them will ever face the consequences of their actions.
While Nka’s experience and her heartfelt posts highlight the emotional toll that kidnapping has on individuals, they also serve as a clarion call for greater action from the Nigerian government and law enforcement agencies. The frequency of abductions in Nigeria demands a response that goes beyond simple security measures.
Experts argue that the root causes of kidnapping—poverty, unemployment, and insecurity—must be addressed if the crisis is to be mitigated. Law enforcement agencies must be better equipped and trained to handle kidnapping cases, and the legal system must move swiftly to bring criminals to justice.
On the part of the government, there needs to be a broader commitment to ensuring that the safety of Nigerian citizens is a top priority. This includes not only addressing the immediate threat of kidnapping but also tackling the systemic issues that allow such criminal activities to thrive.
For families like Nka’s, the fight for justice is ongoing. While the pain of loss may never fully subside, they continue to hold on to the hope that their loved one’s death will not be in vain. Nka’s story, while tragic, is a powerful reminder of the importance of community, resilience, and the ongoing fight against violent crime in Nigeria.
