Parents of eight graduates of Akwa Ibom State tertiary institutions mobilised for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) yesterday staged a peaceful protest over the abduction of their children by suspected bandits in Zamfara State on their way to Sokoto State orientation camp.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the victims were ferried from Uyo, the state capital via the Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) bus to Abuja en route Sokoto, but were intercepted by hoodlums in Zamfara State, three days ago, forcing the distraught parents to protest to the State House of Assembly to draw government attention to the incident.

Speaker of the house Udeme Otong, who addressed the protesting parents, it was learnt, later calmed their frayed nerves in a closed door meeting in his office, while assuring them that “the matter would be handled at the administrative level.”

The state commissioner for information and strategy, Iniobong Ememobong, who blamed the incident on insecurity in the country, said the administration of Governor Umo Eno was negotiating with the Zamfara State government and security agencies to secure the safe release of the kidnapped victims.

He said, “The incident is borne out of the general situation of insecurity in the country. Government is aware of the incident, and is in touch with both the government of the state where the incident happened, and the security apparatus in the state.

“But being a security operation, the government cannot say so until the people who are being held hostage have been released. So, we understand the parents are feeling so extremely bad, but unfortunately because of its security nature, we can’t even share more information.

“What I can tell for now is that the government is aware, and is in – charge, and on top of the situation. We are appealing to the parents to exercise a little bit of patience, and continue to support the government with prayers; that is the only option available for them now.”