"Don’t Allow Them Kill Our Children" – Father Of Kidnapped Medical Student Begs FG

The father of one of the 20 medical students who were recently kidnapped along the busy Otukpo-Enugu highway, Mr Kwaghaondona Fagar has appealed to the Federal and state governments to intensify the search to rescue his son and his colleagues.

Recall that a week ago 20 medical students from the University of Maiduguri and University of Jos were kidnapped whisked into the forest near Otukpo in Benue state while on their way to attend the annual Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students, FECAMDS, Convention in Enugu State.

The retired civil servant who made the appeal weekend while speaking to newsmen in Makurdi lamented that the aged parents of the abducted students were still in shock and traumatised over the incident.

The septuagenarian said after the kidnap of their children about a week ago it became almost impossible for them to sleep pointing out that their situation was made worse by the demand of N50million ransom by the abductors for the students to regain their freedom.

He noted the economic challenges Nigerians were currently facing wondering where the parents would source the N50million ransom the kidnappers were demanding before the release of the victims.

According to him “our situation is unbearable and pathetic. Many of the parents of the victims are widows and widowers who are yet to even pay the school fees of our children let alone be able to raise money for the ransom they are demanding for.”

The worried father made an emotional appeal saying he had to sell his cars to be able to send his son to school to read medicine lamenting that “we are helpless in this circumstance and we appeal to the Federal and State Governments and other well-meaning Nigerians to please intensify the search for our children before the kidnappers start carry out their threat of killing them one after the other.

“The truth is that with the current situation, how do I and others get the money to rescue our children. I have been looking round with my wife to source the sum of N2.5million which is my share of the money to pay. It has been difficult.

“All the parents are communicating and sourcing for the ransom to pay, we are all in a platform making serious efforts. My son called two days ago and pleaded that I should look for money, as they have been starving, with no food or water.”