Seven graduates from Akwa Ibom State, abducted in Zamfara State on their way to the Sokoto State NYSC orientation camp, are still languishing day 52 on Sunday in the dungeon of their abductors.
Though eight graduates alongside the AKTC bus driver were kidnapped on Thursday, August 17, 2023 along Zamfara Highway, one graduate had been released.
The traumatised parents of the NYSC members have so far paid N13 million to the terrorists, yet, they have refused to release them.
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Though it is confirmed that the terrorists were demanding an additional N200 million ransom, trace of the prospective NYSC members still alive is cloudy.
A family member of one of the abductees remarked: “We don’t know how we are going to raise that kind of money. Everybody was shocked when two parents told us that after they paid the final N8 million (to make up the N13 million ransom negotiated), the terrorists suddenly refused to release our children.
“They said instead, the kidnappers contacted them to demand an additional N200 million ransom. We have paid N13 million already. First, we paid N5 million, later N8 million. Some parents sold their lands, and some even collected loans to raise the N13 million. We have not received any help from the government. So, how are we going to raise this fresh ransom of N200 million? We have deliberately kept this development from my mother. I don’t think that poor widow will survive if she hears this. We are suffering and helpless.”
Two weeks ago, the Director General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed, said the agency was working with security agencies to secure the release of the abducted NYSC members.
Speaking at an interactive session with members of the House of Representatives Committee on Youth Development, Ahmed said: “We have full synergy among the agencies.”
But an indigene of Akwa Ibom State, who is also a journalist, Ibanga Isine, in a piece entitled, Free Kidnapped Corps Members: An Open letter, addressed to the NYSC Director-General, and copied to President Bola Tinubu; President of Senate, Godswill Akpabio; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar and Minister of State, Defence, Bello Matawalle, accused the NYSC DG of not doing enough to free the abductees.
In the letter published by Straightnews, Ibanga queried: “With due respect, General, how do you sleep in the night knowing that peoples’ children who simply answered the call to serve their country are languishing in the camp of brigands who can take their lives at any time?
“If your child or that of President Tinubu was captured in this way, would you act as if nothing had happened or that you were not responsible for them just because they did not make it to the camp?”
Senate, House of Reps wade in
Meanwhile, the Senate last week summoned the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Hassan Abubakar, over raging terror attacks in the country.
Also invited were the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The senators asked security agencies to be more proactive and ensure the rescue of the abducted female students of Federal University, Dutsinma, as well as the NYSC members kidnapped in Zamfara State.
They also urged the armed forces to conduct special operations to dislodge bandits in the North-west and in other parts of the country and also called on the federal government to address the manpower deficit in the armed forces and police.
Earlier, the House of Representatives had mandated the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and other security agencies to intensify efforts and deploy all necessary resources to secure the immediate and safe release of the seven abducted prospective corps members.
The house also mandated its Committee on National Security to ensure compliance with the resolutions of the House and report to the house within one week.
This followed a motion of urgent public importance brought to the floor of the house by the member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, Unyime Idem and co-sponsored by the nine other members of Akwa Ibom caucus in the House of Representatives.
In the motion, Idem was worried that continuous abduction of innocent corps members raises security concerns, threatens lives, erodes public trust and confidence in the government’s ability to protect, and threatens the core objective of the National Youth Service Corps.
He noted that “recognizing the urgency of the situation, there is need for immediate action to ensure the safety, security and release of the now seven abducted corps members following a release of one, as confirmed by the NYSC Director-General on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, and the need to restore confidence in our national security system and preserve our national unity.”
Straightnews gathered that in May 2023, seven corps members kidnapped in Rivers State on their way from the orientation camp in Ondo State, were released after payment of ransom.
