Seven Akwa Ibom State residents who were kidnapped Monday, August 2, 2021, in Kogi State, on their way to Abuja, are languishing in their captors’ den forcing relatives to cry for their unconditional release.
This was barely one week after five prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members from Akwa Ibom and Imo States heading to Katsina State from service died in an auto crash.
Relatives of the abducted victims are in panic and are appealing for the unconditional release and safe return of their children, husbands and siblings.
The relatives, in an interview with Inspiration Radio correspondent in Uyo, explained that their family members left on Monday morning, August 2, 2021 for Abuja, using an AKTC bus never got to their destination.
According to the families, seven of the travellers, some of whom are Akwa Ibom residents, were kidnapped in Kogi state and taken to an unknown forest, while the older passengers in the bus were left behind.
They explained that the kidnappers finally established contacts with them on Tuesday, demanding random of N15 million for each victim, but after much negotiation, the ransom was reduced to N5 million for each victim.
The victims’ families accused Akwa Ibom Transport Company, AKTC, for not being sincere with them, saying they have not been forthcoming with information about what they are doing to ensure release of the victims.
They appealed to the state government, the police and all Akwa Ibom people to rise up and wade in to avert an impending calamity.
In a telephone interview, the Police Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom, Odiko MacDon, said the state command is yet to receive such information.
MacDon, a police superintendent of police, noted however that the command is willing to partner its Kogi counterpart to ensure safe release of the victims.
