Three young men from have escaped after allegedly being held captive and tortured for months inside a luxury estate in following what turned out to be a fake job recruitment scheme.
The victims, identified as Joseph Ibangwu, Izuchukwu Junior, and Miracle Tochukwu, were reportedly lured from Ebonyi State with promises of legitimate employment in Enugu. On arrival, they were taken to a residential apartment within a high-brow estate along the Enugu–Port Harcourt expressway.
According to accounts from one of the survivors, they were initially presented with laptop computers and told they would be trained for tech-related work. However, the situation quickly changed as they were allegedly confined, had their phones seized, and were prevented from leaving the premises.
The victims further alleged that they were repeatedly assaulted and threatened whenever they attempted to resist or request to return home. A demand for payment was also reportedly made before any of them could be released.
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They claimed they were kept under strict surveillance, fed minimally, and subjected to harsh treatment over an extended period.
Their escape reportedly became possible after one of the captives found an opportunity to flee, prompting the others to also risk jumping from the building to secure their freedom. They then sought help from nearby residents and estate security personnel.
The youths were later rescued and handed over to relevant security agencies for investigation. Authorities have since arrested a suspect believed to be connected to the case, while investigations continue.
Medical treatment is ongoing for the victims, as officials and rights groups call for full prosecution of all individuals involved and stronger action against human trafficking and job scam networks in the region.
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