Most primary school teachers in Ukanafun local government area of Akwa Ibom State are gripped with fear following different notices of ransom pasted in their schools and compounds demanding payment of various sums of money to suspected kidnappers failure to do so they would risk being kidnapped, investigations by Straightnews have shown.
Mostly head teachers of primary schools in Ikot Enang, Ikot Udo Obobo, Ikot Inyang Abia, Ikot Udombang and Ikot Ekperikpe, among others all in Ukanafun are said to be in the wanted list of the ransom-frenzied kidnappers.
Some of them who are unable to meet their purported demands have relocated to other neighbouring local government areas for fear of being abducted.
An executive member of Association of Primary School Headteachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON), Ukanafun Branch who spoke on condition of anonymity in the area who confided in our correspondent lamented that teachers are traumatised by this unfortunate development.
He queried how much are primary school teachers earning that hoodlums would continue to squeeze huge sums from them in the name of ransom, predicting that this sad incident could lead to exodus of the teachers to other local government areas.
The AOPSHON member, therefore, called on the state and local governments including security operatives in the area to come to their aid to abate high incidents of kidnappings and killings of helpless indigenes of the area.
A staff of Education Office, Ukanafun who did not want his name in print said the situation is worsening such that people in the area fail to release or divulge information on the nefarious activities of kidnappers to avert the angst of the rampaging kidnappers, calling on security operatives to wade into the situation.
Investigation by our correspondent further shows that the kidnappers also paste notices of ransom in the compounds of some well-do persons in the area for payment. At times, the victims-to-be would clandestinely pay the ransom to be free from the kidnappers’ hook.
Meanwhile, two primary school teachers recently kidnapped in Ukanafun local government area in Akwa Ibom State have been let off the hook by their abductors.
The teachers are- Mrs Nseobong Idiang, headmistress of Government Primary School, Ikot Udobia and Monday Jack Udoh, headmaster of Government School, Ahaobu all in Ukanafun.
Straightnews gathered that families of the duo had allegedly paid various sums of money as ransom ranging from N100,000 to N200,000 before their abductors released them.
Speaking to Straightnews, Uko Idiong, Ukanafun local government chairman confirmed that the teachers had been released.
DSP Odiko Macdon, Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom Police Command also confirmed the release of the teachers.
