Families of the Akwa Ibom State prospective corps members, kidnapped on August 17, 2023, en route to the Sokoto State orientation camp, are anxiously dealing with the abductors’ demand of N10 million per person for the safe return of their loved ones.

Mr. Mfon Friday, a relative of one of the victims, diclosed on Thursday in Uyo that a total ransom of N30.8 million has been paid to the abductors thus far.

Expressing frustration and concern for the parents’ immense hardship due to their children’s abduction, Friday spoke vehemently about the situation.

He recalled that initially, N13.6 million was paid by the parents, followed by an additional N17.2 million towards the end of last month (October). Despite these payments, their children remained unreleased.

He lamented: “As we speak, our children are still in Zamfara bush, including the driver of AKTC and it is over 100 days when they were kidnapped. When they called on Monday, the kidnappers said parents should pay another N70 million.

“Remember the  first ransom the parents paid was over N13 million and it was paid collectively. But this time, they want the parents to pay N10 million each. Before end of October, N17 million was paid, making it about N30.8 million so far paid, yet they didn’t free those children.

“They only released one of the girls. And Monday this week, when they contacted us, they demanded N10 million from each family. How are we going to raise that kind of money? Those people failed to understand that those children are not from rich families.

“They even threatened to leave those children to die if the parents don’t pay the ransom very soon. I am very, very angry. Why can’t our government, the federal and state governments, do something to save the lives of those young graduates? In fact, when the parents heard that all the children were sick, you needed to see how they were crying, especially the mothers.

“They are not children of  Policemen, the Army  and politicians that is why they have been allowed to remain in kidnappers den till today? We are praying that nothing happens to them. And I am using this platform to appeal for urgent help from every well meaning citizens of this country, so that these children will not die in the kidnappers den.”

A sibling of one of the victims, speaking anonymously to Vanguard after the affected families convened in Uyo on Tuesday, revealed that the abductors received the N17.2 million ransom before releasing the female victims last month.

Reports suggested that these individuals were severely ill during their captivity.

“In fact, I learned that the remaining seven have also fallen seriously sick and that is why the kidnappers are demanding this huge ransom and threatening that if we don’t pay very soon, those children will die. I am scared, I don’t want my sister to die. We are orphans, we struggled to go to school,” she lamented

Another talented chef from Ondo State, Adeola Adeyeye, has taken on an ambitious challenge of attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon.

The record, currently held by Hilda Baci, stands at an impressive 93 hours and 11 minutes.

Inspired by the efforts of another Nigerian chef, Adeparusi Damilola, also known as Chef Dammy, who recently embarked on a 120-hour cook-a-thon in Ekiti State’s Oye Local Government Area, Adeyeye decided to push the boundaries further.

The cook-a-thon commenced on Friday, June 30, 2023, in the Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State as she has set her sights on completing an astounding 150 hours of continuous cooking, with the event scheduled to conclude on Thursday, July 6, 2023.

With dedication and perseverance, Adeyeye aims to etch her name in culinary history and showcase her impressive culinary skills to the world.

See photos below: