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From Isaac Job, Uyo
The family of Utibe Asian, a student in the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Uyo (UniUyo), has raised the alarm after paying N500,000 ransom to his abductors, yet he remains in captivity months after his abduction in Uyo metropolis on December 2 last year.
Asian, a 300-level student from Obio Etoi in Uyo Local Government Area of the state, was reportedly declared missing after he received a call from a friend on phone number 09066935255 on the fateful day.
Narrating the incident to our correspondent in Uyo, the victim’s father, Pastor Aniefiok Asian, said the caller invited Utibe to an undisclosed location, after which he never returned home.
Asian disclosed that the abductors contacted him on December 3 and initially demanded N30 million ransom, which was later reduced to N500,000.
He said the money was hurriedly paid into a Moniepoint PoS account, number 5631337489, with the account name Uzor Onuoha Enterprise Bank, on December 13, 2025, in the hope that his son would regain his freedom, but he was not released as expected. He said after the payment, the kidnappers stopped communicating with the family, while nothing had since been heard from the victim.
Asian explained that before the ransom was paid, the matter had been reported to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command on December 5, 2025, while his statement was obtained by an officer identified as Jumbo, who was assigned as the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) handling the case.
Part of the petition read: “On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, Mr Utibe Aniefiok Asian was abducted by unknown persons within Uyo metropolis.
“Since the incident, we have received calls from unidentified persons believed to be the abductors through phone number 09066935255. The suspect also used my son’s phone number, 09010911529, to contact us.
“The first day, he demanded N30 million as ransom and gradually reduced it to N500,000, which was paid through transfer to a Moniepoint PoS account number 5631337489 with the account name Uzor Onuoha Enterprise Bank on December 13, 2025.
“I was directed to go to Abak to pick up my child. Since that day of payment, the abductors have not called again, neither have we heard my son’s voice.”
Asian said he also reported the incident to the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Internal Security, retired Maj.-Gen. Uko Essien, but alleged that the matter was swept under the carpet.
Speaking with tears rolling down his cheeks, he said he later submitted another petition to the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, titled: “Report of Suspected Kidnapping in Uyo.”
He added that the matter was equally reported to the Department of State Services (DSS) in the state, but security agencies had yet to make any breakthrough despite the clues provided.
Asian said the current situation remained painful and uncertain as the family did not know the whereabouts of their son or the identity of his abductors.
He appealed to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to intervene by deploying all available security apparatus to rescue his son and apprehend the abductors.
“I still believe that the security agencies can do their work and 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 book,” he said.
Reacting to the incident, Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, told our reporter that the case had not been officially reported to the command.
“I have advised the father of the victim to report through our official channels. Once that is done, we will follow up immediately,” he said.
