Parents from Akwa Ibom state whose children were abducted on August 17, 2023, while en route to Sokoto State Orientation Camp for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, have once again petitioned the federal and state governments of Akwa Ibom to aid in the victims’ release.
Following their brief meeting in Uyo yesterday, a few of the affected parents talked with Vanguard and raised doubts about security services’ ability to free those potential corps members who had been abducted and held captive in the Zamfara jungle for three months.
Solomon Emmanuel, one of the parents, brought up the fact that two of the victims—a man and a woman—did not get their freedom back until the parents battled to raise the money that the kidnappers had requested.
“When the government, especially the security services, claims to be taking action to save those kids, I feel awful. Such stories are limited to the news, but we are not witnessing any change. We cannot provide the N70m that those folks are presently requesting. That is more than we can afford.
Now is the moment for the authorities to demonstrate that they are genuinely trying to save our children who were abducted and transported to serve their fatherland in Sokoto. That is the reason we have come together today to request assistance from the government as a group.
Another parent, Mrs. Idongesit, revealed her concerns about the threat made by the kidnappers last week, stating that they will begin killing their children one by one if the parents are unable to acquire the N70 million ransom.
“I saw my daughter off at the AKTC motor park the last time I saw her,” the woman stated. I was pleased to see other corps members accompanying her that day. How could I have realized that going to the AKTC would not be safe for my daughter? I still hold the AKTC responsible for the misfortunes that befell those youngsters in Zamfara.
“We were told that the driver was instructed not to use that road after 6 o’clock in the evening, but he disregarded the advice. And since they took their phones away from them during the first week the incident occurred, I have not been able to speak with my child again. Thinking about the torture and hardship the kids are going through in the bush saddens me.
“I seldom eat, and I don’t sleep much these days. I lie awake at night wondering why no one has given up on us—not even the administration of Akwa Ibom—in this predicament. Painful and depressing. Since no one we have contacted has offered us hope, our parents are powerless and desperate.
“Even the Paramount Rulers have met with us in an attempt to assist us in contacting the Governor, but we have not heard back since. While I personally used alternative routes, such as utilizing certain governor’s aides, I doubt Governor Umo Eno received the letters we sent him requesting assistance more than a month ago.
And I’m urging Governor Eno, our federal and state legislators—especially Senator President Akpabio—that we won’t give up and will keep pleading with them to assist in rescuing our children. Keep them alive in the Zamfara wilderness. We the parents are helpless. We are running out of time to pay the ransom; therefore, we need your help immediately. Time is not on our side.
“Unfortunately, those children are still in captivity despite the fact that some of us raised over N30 million in ransom by borrowing money, taking out loans, and selling our properties. If you have good social standing, please lend us your assistance. Assist us in freeing our kids who have been kidnapped by bandits in Zamfara for more than three months. Since we were informed that our children are weak, I have been restless.
When asked how he was doing, Mr. Bassey, who was on the verge of tears, could hardly talk but stated, “I have not been myself since my son was kidnapped.” My desire is to keep my child. Please, I can’t talk about this.
It was later learned that several family members and parents were unable to attend the meeting in Uyo because they were shocked by the state of the youngsters who were still in the kidnappers’ dens.
