Parents of 20 medical students who were kidnapped last week along the Otukpo-Enugu highway in Nigeria are pleading with the government for urgent intervention to save their children. The students, who were traveling to attend a medical convention organized by the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) in Enugu State, were taken by armed abductors into a nearby forest. The families of the students, now faced with a demand for a N50 million ransom, are struggling with how to raise the money needed to secure their children’s release.

Families Struggle Amid Ransom Demands and Economic Hardship

The kidnapping has left the families in a state of panic and despair, exacerbated by the steep ransom set by the kidnappers. “Our situation is unbearable and pathetic,” said Mr. Kwaghaondona Fagar, the father of one of the abducted students. He is a retired civil servant who has already sacrificed much to fund his son’s education. “Many of the parents 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,” he added.

The kidnappers have demanded a collective ransom of N50 million, an amount that is simply beyond the means of most of the affected families. Each parent is expected to contribute approximately N2.5 million, a sum that many are finding impossible to gather due to Nigeria’s current economic challenges. “I have been looking around with my wife to source the sum of N2.5 million, which is my share of the money to pay. It has been difficult,” Mr. Fagar said, highlighting the financial strain the ransom demand has placed on the families.

The economic climate in Nigeria has made it particularly challenging for these families to meet such demands. With many already struggling to make ends meet, the added burden of raising such a significant amount of money in a short period of time has left them feeling desperate and helpless. “We are all in a platform making serious efforts,” Mr. Fagar noted, referring to a communication group created by the parents to coordinate their efforts to raise the ransom money.

Urgent Calls for Government Intervention

Faced with the grim reality of their situation, the parents are urgently calling on the Federal and State governments to take decisive action to rescue the kidnapped students. The lack of sleep and the constant worry about their children’s safety have taken a toll on the parents, many of whom are elderly and already vulnerable. “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 carrying out their threat of killing them one after the other,” Mr. Fagar implored.

The families are not only worried about the financial implications but also about the physical and emotional well-being of their children. Reports from the students indicate that they are being starved and denied basic necessities like food and water. “My son called two days ago and pleaded that I should look for money, as they have been starving, with no food or water,” Mr. Fagar revealed, describing the harrowing conditions under which the students are being held.

These phone calls are a source of both hope and despair for the parents. While they are relieved to hear their children’s voices, the pleas for help and the descriptions of their suffering are heartbreaking. The families are united in their demand for immediate government action, not just to secure the release of their children but also to prevent the kidnappers from carrying out their threats of violence.

Source: Vanguard