Family alleges UNIUYO student still held after ransom

The family of Utibe Asian, a 300-level Theatre Arts student of the University of Uyo, has raised the alarm over his continued captivity months after allegedly paying N500,000 ransom to his abductors.

Utibe, from Obio Etoi in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, was reportedly declared missing on 2 December 2025 after leaving home to meet a friend who contacted him through phone number 09066935255.

Narrating the incident to journalists in Uyo, the victim’s father, Pastor Aniefiok Asian, said his son left home after receiving the call and never returned.

According to him, the abductors contacted the family on 3 December 2025 and initially demanded N30 million ransom, which was later reduced to N500,000.

He alleged that the money was paid on 13 December 2025 into a Moniepoint PoS account, number 5631337489, bearing the name Uzor Onuoha, linked to Enterprise Bank, with the expectation that his son would regain his freedom.

However, he said the abductors neither released the victim nor contacted the family after receiving the payment.

Asian stated that the matter was reported to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command on 5 December 2025, adding that his statement was obtained by an officer identified as Mrs Jumbo, who was assigned as the Investigating Police Officer handling the case.

Part of the petition submitted by the family read: “On Wednesday, 3 December 2025, Mr Utibe Aniefiok Asian was abducted by unknown persons within the Uyo metropolis.

“Since the incident, we have received calls from an unidentified person believed to be the abductor through phone number 09066935255. He also used my son’s phone number, 09010911529, to contact us.

“Initially, he demanded N30 million as ransom but later reduced it to N500,000, which was transferred to a Moniepoint PoS account on 13 December 2025.

“I was later directed to go to Abak to pick up my child, but since the payment was made, the abductors have neither contacted us again nor allowed us to hear my son’s voice.”

The distraught father further alleged that he reported the incident to the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Internal Security, retired Major General Uko Essien, but claimed that no action was taken.

He added that the same petition, titled “Report of Suspected Kidnapping in Uyo”, was later submitted to the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Baba Mohammed Azare.

Asian also disclosed that the matter was reported to the Department of State Services in the state, but the kidnappers had yet to be tracked despite clues allegedly provided to security agencies.

Speaking emotionally, he appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to intervene and deploy all necessary security resources to rescue his son and apprehend those responsible.

“I still believe the security agencies can do their work. I want the IGP to form a rescue team to bring back my son.

“At least, I should know the perpetrators, and they should be brought to justice,” he said.

Reacting to the allegation, the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, said the kidnapping case had not been officially reported to the command.

“I have advised the victim’s father to report through our official channels. Once that is done, we will follow up immediately,” he said.