The family of one of the graduates, who were kidnapped on the way back from camping for their one-year compulsory national youth service programme, have bemoaned government neglect and appealed for help.

In an interview with Kristina Reports, Uyai-Abasi Udofia, sister to one of the abductees, Uyo-Obong Udofia, narrated how traumatizing the situation has been for her family.

She explained that her sister, Uyo-Obong started her trip on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, but due to the distance, the journey had to be continued on the next day, Thursday, August 17, 2023, and that was when tragedy struck.

She expressed disappointment over how the issue is being shunned by the government considering the fact that the abducted students were on their way to serve the country when they were kidnapped.

Recall that on Thursday, August 17, 2023, prospective corps members, who were travelling to Sokoto and Zamfara States from Akwa Ibom State, were abducted by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

A total of nine graduates from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State University and Heritage Polytechnic, along with the driver of their bus were abducted while three others escaped.

She lamented that it is now two weeks since her sister was abducted and they are yet to get any form of support from any arm of government, saying that the sum of four million naira was demanded for each of the abductees but was later reduced to ten million naira for all nine of them.

After several pleas from the family, Uyaiabasi disclosed that the ransom was reduced to N5million for all of them, but regretted that curiously, “when this amount was paid last week, only one of the abductees, who was shot on the leg, was released and the parents were asked to pay up 5 million naira for the rest of them to be released.”

Uyaiabasi appealed to the general public and, especially, the government to help out in any way possible as her family and the family of the other prospective corps members are doing everything in their power to ensure that their loved ones return home safe.

“Those kidnappers reduced the money from four million each to ten million for the nine of them, after so much pleading, they reduced it to five million, two parents volunteered to take the money to them, they took it to them.”

“They have gotten the money but they are saying they can only release the corps member that was shot on the leg and they should bring another five million so they can release others.”

“Please help donate, anything would be appreciated. I have spoken to my sister and she really wants to come home.”

“It has been about two weeks since this happened and the government has not reached out or met with the families. It is really unfair and sad.”