Kidnappers of ABSU student contact family, demand undisclosed ransom

The only student of Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, still left in the custody of a criminal gang which abducted some persons while journeying along the Okigwe-Uturu Road, has been released.

It was gathered that other passengers who were taken into custody with the student were also said to have regained their freedom. 

Recall that the kidnappers had made contact with the family of the victim, demanding undisclosed ransom. 

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who didn’t disclose if any ransom was later paid for the release of the female student and others in captivity made this known via his official Twitter handle@GovernorIkpeazu.

The Governor who thanked God, security agents and management of ABSU for the release of the abducted student, expressed joy at the development, but was silent on others who were held hostage together with the student.

Ikpeazu who couldn’t also disclose if any arrest was made at the time of filing the report, vowed that he will surely take justice to those involved in the kidnap, adding that he will not share the State with criminal elements.

His full tweet reads:
“It is with exceedingly great joy and a very pleasant sense of relief that I announce that the only kidnapped ABSU student who was still in custody of the hoodlums that abducted some people few days ago along the Okigwe-Uturu Road has been freed. 

“I spoke with her and …her mother minutes ago and want to thank God, our security agents and the management of ABSU for a job well done leading to this good news.

“Our administration has since taken measures to strengthen security around the area where the incident happened and even beyond it ensure security of lives and property which remains my number one assignment as Governor and it is one duty I will never take lightly. 

“We will surely take justice to those who abducted our student as we will not cohabit this state with criminals.”

Meanwhile, one of the two students of the University who was said to have managed to escape from kidnappers along Okigwe-Uturu road has disclosed how she escaped from their captors.

In a statement, the student whose identity could not be made public for security reason said trouble started when she along with other passengers numbering about nine, boarded a Toyota Sienna Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) belonging to their friend she named Chris. 

The escaped student who disclosed that the incident happened at about 8pm, said the journey was without hitches until they reached a point riddled with many potholes close to Okigwe Local Government Headquarters, causing their driver, to slow down his speed.

She said it was at that moment, heavily armed men numbering about 10 jumped out from the push, threatening to kill every body in the vehicle if the passengers did not follow them.

She further disclosed that in an attempt to escape, their vehicle ran into a ditch, causing the doors to shut, a situation that made it difficult for them to escape.

She equally narrated that their abductors broke the car windows and brought them out one after the other.

The student revealed that her escape was made possible when she laid on the floor of the vehicle, weeping and begging their abductors to spare her, offering her phone and money which they rejected, insisting that they didn’t want anything from them.

The escaped student disclosed that their captives threats to kill could not make her go into the forest where they had taken others to and when it appeared they could no longer contend with the delay, they left her.

At about 4am the next day according to her, she called her friend she named UG who was among those kidnapped.

She said her friend told her that from the point where their abductors took them to, they were only a shouting distance from Enugu and that they were lucky to escape when their abductors fell asleep.

She disclosed that UG equally told her before their escape, their abductors had threatened to slaughter them and watch their cows step on their (victims) intestines if they refused to cooperate with them.