By Funso Alarape
Monday January 15, 2024
Please, share the story.
Parents of seven Akwa Ibom prospective National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC) members posted to Sokoto State but kidnapped on their way to the state on August 17, 2023, have again called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rescue their children from the kidnappers’ den.
The parents who told the Pathfinder Reporter that they may die soon due to the calamity that has fallen them said that their children had spent four months with the kidnappers and they were beginning to lose hope of seeing their children come back alive.
Recall that on August 17, 2023, an 11-seater Akwa Ibom State Transport Company (AKTC) en route to Sokoto from Uyo was intercepted by bandits on the Zamfara State Highway who abducted eight of the passengers and the bus driver while others escaped.
The passengers were mainly fresh graduates from Akwa Ibom State posted to Sokoto for the compulsory one-year NYSC program.
Two of the eight passengers, one male, and a female, were later released by the abductors, leaving six and the bus driver in their bondage. 149 days later, the victims remain in captivity.
The abductors are said to demanded N70 million in ransom to free the abductees even after collecting over N30 million already from the traumatized parents.
Despite widespread condemnation of perceived nonchalance by the federal, Akwa Ibom, and Zamfara governments, the NYSC, and security operatives towards the plight of the victims, these key state actors are said to have not done enough to rescue the corps members and their driver.
Lamenting, the parents of the abducted students said “Some of us borrowed money, some took loans, others sold their properties to raise over N30m ransom but unfortunately those children are still in captivity. If you are a well-placed individual in society, we need your support. Help us to rescue our children abducted for over three months now by bandits in Zamfara. I have been restless since we were told that our children are weak. We are dying gradually because this calamity that has fallen on us is affecting our health badly.
“We are appealing to the people of Nigeria to please prevail on President Tinubu to rescue our children for us.”
We are here to serve you with quality news and information.
However, your donations and advert placement are welcome.
Contact us on 08033783144
08023469999
idowuadelusi@yahoo.com, idowuadelusi@gmail.com,
thepathfindernews0@gmail.com
Follow our reports also on X @idowuadelusi
God Bless You.