Mr. Kwaghaondona Fagar, father of one of the 20 medical students abducted last week along the Otukpo-Enugu highway, has made a heartfelt appeal to both federal and state governments for increased efforts to secure the release of his son and his fellow students.
A week ago, students from the University of Maiduguri and University of Jos were seized by kidnappers and taken into a forest near Otukpo in Benue State. The group was en route to the annual Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) Convention in Enugu State when they were taken.
In an emotional statement made over the weekend in Makurdi, the retired civil servant expressed the profound distress of the victims’ elderly parents. These parents are grappling with the trauma of the abduction, compounded by the kidnappers’ demand for a N50 million ransom.
Mr. Fagar, who is in his seventies, highlighted the severe financial strain this ransom demand places on the families. Many of the parents are either widowed or elderly, struggling to afford even basic necessities, let alone the exorbitant ransom. He pointed out the severe economic challenges facing Nigerians and questioned how such a significant amount could be raised under the current circumstances.
“We are in a dire situation,” Mr. Fagar lamented. “Many of us are still trying to pay our children’s school fees, and now we face this overwhelming demand. I have had to sell my cars just to support my son’s education, and now, I am left with no means to pay the ransom. Our hope lies in the government and compassionate Nigerians to intensify the search for our children before the kidnappers make good on their threats.”
The distraught father revealed that he and other parents have been desperately trying to raise the ransom, with efforts coordinated through a group platform. Despite their best efforts, they are struggling to gather the necessary funds. Mr. Fagar also shared a recent call from his son, who reported severe deprivation of food and water, adding to the urgency of their plight.
The appeal underscores the critical need for swift and decisive action from authorities and the broader community to rescue the students and address the increasing menace of kidnapping for ransom in the region.
