UNIUYO Student Allegedly Kidnapped Despite Family Paying ₦500,000 Ransom

A 300-level student of University of Uyo, Utibe Asian, remains missing after being allegedly kidnapped in Akwa Ibom despite his family paying a ₦500,000 ransom, prompting appeals for intervention from the Nigeria Police Force.

A 300-level Theatre Arts student of University of Uyo, identified as Utibe Asian, has reportedly been kidnapped in Akwa Ibom State, with his family claiming they paid a ransom of ₦500,000 but the student was never released.

According to reports, Utibe, who is from Obio Etoi in Uyo Local Government Area, disappeared after receiving a phone call from a friend on December 2, 2025. His father, Pastor Aniefiok Asian, said the student left home to meet the caller at an undisclosed location and has not returned since then.

The distraught father explained that the suspected kidnappers contacted the family the following day and initially demanded ₦30 million before later reducing the ransom to ₦500,000. He said the money was transferred on December 13, 2025, into a Moniepoint PoS account allegedly linked to an account name identified as Uzor Onuoha at Enterprise Bank, after the family was assured the victim would regain his freedom. However, despite the payment, the abductors reportedly stopped communicating with the family and the student has still not been found.

Pastor Asian disclosed that the matter was first reported to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Nigeria Police Force in Akwa Ibom on December 5, 2025, where a statement was taken and an Investigative Police Officer assigned to the case. He added that the family also submitted petitions to the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Internal Security and later to the Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, after becoming frustrated by the lack of progress.

In the petition, the family stated that the abductors used both the suspect’s phone number and the victim’s own mobile line to contact them during negotiations. The father lamented that despite providing security agencies with several clues, no breakthrough had been made regarding his son’s whereabouts.

Speaking emotionally, Pastor Asian appealed to the Inspector General of Police to intervene directly and establish a rescue operation to locate his son and arrest those responsible for the alleged abduction. He said he still believes security agencies can resolve the case and ensure justice is served.

Reacting to the claims, Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, reportedly stated that the case had not been officially reported through the command’s formal channels. He advised the family to follow the proper reporting procedures, assuring that the police would immediately investigate once the complaint is formally lodged.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, VANGUARD