Parents and family members of Akwa Ibom State prospective NYSC corps members kidnapped on August 17, 2023, while traveling to an orientation camp in Sokoto State are currently terrified as the kidnappers demand N10 million each as ransom for the victims’ release.
Mr. Mfon Friday, a victim’s family member, told newsmen yesterday in Uyo that a total of N30.8 million in ransom has been paid to the kidnappers.
Friday, who spoke bitterly about the unimaginable hardship the parents were currently facing as a result of their children’s kidnapping, recalled that the parents had initially paid N13.6 million, and towards the end of last month (October), another sum of N17.2 million was also paid, but the children were still not released.
He lamented: “As we speak, our children are still in Zamfara bush, including the driver of AKTC, and it has been over 100 days since they were kidnapped.
“When they called on Monday, the kidnappers said parents should pay another N70 million.
“Remember, the first ransom the parents paid was over N13 million, and it was paid collectively. But this time, they want the parents to pay N10 million each. Before the end of October, N17 million was paid, making it about N30. 8 million so far paid, yet they didn’t free those children.
“They only released one of the girls. And on Monday this week, when they contacted us, they demanded N10 million from each family. How are we going to raise that kind of money? Those people failed to understand that those children are not from rich families.
“They even threatened to leave those children to die if the parents didn’t pay the ransom very soon. I am very, very angry. Why can’t our government, the federal and state governments, do something to save the lives of those young graduates? In fact, when the parents heard that all the children were sick, you needed to see how they were crying, especially the mothers.
“They are not children of policemen, the Army, and politicians; that is why they have been allowed to remain in the kidnappers den till today. We are praying that nothing happens to them. And I am using this platform to appeal for urgent help from every well-meaning citizen of this country, so that these children will not die in the kidnappers den.”
One of the victim’s siblings, who talked in confidence after the affected families met in Uyo on Tuesday, revealed that the abductors were paid the N17.2 million ransom before releasing the female victims, who they gathered were severely ill, last month.
“In fact, I learned that the remaining seven have also fallen seriously ill, and that is why the kidnappers are demanding this huge ransom and threatening that if we don’t pay very soon, those children will die. I am scared; I don’t want my sister to die. We are orphans; we struggled to go to school,” she lamented.
