Against All Odds: How Medical Student Survived Two Brushes with Death, Escapes Kidnappers’ Grasp

In a harrowing ordeal that saw a University of Jos medical student escape from the clutches of kidnappers, the young man’s family is breathing a collective sigh of relief. For Kingsley Fagar, the recent incident marks his second close encounter with death.

Kingsley, who was abducted alongside others on the Otukpo-Enugu highway in Enugu State, was held captive for nine grueling days before regaining his freedom penultimate Friday. His father, Donald Fagar, expressed profound gratitude, saying, “I have every cause to thank God for delivering my son from the jaws of death again.”

Recalling his son’s previous brush with death, Donald shared that Kingsley had first narrowly escaped death on August 15, 2022, when he was attacked and injured during a religious crisis. The father admitted that he had nearly lost hope during the latest ordeal, fearing the worst for his son.

Kingsley’s mother, Cecilia, was equally overjoyed by her son’s safe return. She remarked, “I give God all the glory today because this is the second time my son has gone through such trauma. Kingsley almost lost his life two years ago on August 15, and this one also happened on August 15. It’s by the grace of God that he is coming out alive.”

Since the news of Kingsley’s release, the family has been inundated with congratulatory messages from friends, family members, and neighbors, all eager to welcome him home.

Cecilia recounted a phone call from Kingsley during his captivity. “My son told me that they were being taken to Abuja. He complained that his legs were swollen from trekking through the bush, often drenched by the rain with nowhere to sleep.”

Another victim of the kidnapping, Paul Shantong, shared details of their release with The Nation in Jos. According to Paul, the release was as unexpected as their abduction. “The kidnappers suddenly decided to let us go. They showed us a path and told us that after walking for 30 minutes, we would reach a market.”

However, the journey to safety was fraught with difficulty. “Our legs were badly injured because we had no shoes. Our toes were bruised, and we had many injuries on our legs. Around 10 PM, nobody could move anymore, so we all lay down on the rail track, discussing what to do next,” Paul recounted.

Rescue efforts were underway as security forces attempted to locate the group. “They told us to look for a light in the sky and let them know if we saw it. As they got closer, we started seeing the light. Finally, around 11 PM, they reached us. Some of us were carried out on their backs, others in different ways,” Paul said.

The victims were eventually transported out of the bush on motorcycles, marking the end of a nightmarish experience that none of them will soon forget.