Speaking on behalf of both families, Ferdinard Okwor, an uncle of one of the victims, Odu, described the ordeal as emotionally devastating.
Families of two young academics from the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Engr. Odu Emmanuel Odu and his friend, Eja Vincent Ndifon, have raised fresh alarm over their continued disappearance more than six months after they were kidnapped along the Okigwe–Okwele Road in Imo State on May 23, 2025.
Speaking on behalf of both families, Ferdinard Okwor, an uncle of one of the victims, Odu, described the ordeal as emotionally devastating.
“It is with a heavy heart that I bring to your notice the kidnapping of my nephew and his friend, Odu Emmanuel Odu and Eja Vincent Ndifon, along Okigwe - Okwele Road in Imo State on the 23rd of May this year,” he told SaharaReporters.
According to Okwor, the two lecturers were travelling by road from Lagos to Calabar after going to purchase a vehicle when they were kidnapped in Imo State.
“They were driving through Imo from Lagos to Calabar. Both are lecturers in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cross River State, Calabar,” he explained.
He said that despite early public attention on their disappearance, including a statement from the UNICROSS chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), all attempts to reach the kidnappers or secure updates from security agencies have yielded nothing.
“The local chapter of ASUU released a statement two weeks after their kidnapping, and all our efforts to contact their kidnappers have not yielded any results. The Imo State Police Command has also not been able to provide any update,” he lamented.
Okwor said Odu is the only son of his eldest sister, a former Students’ Union Government (SUG) President of the same university who served in 2015, and currently the examination officer of the Mechanical Engineering Department.
He also noted that Ndifon is an elected official at home, saying, “Eja Ndifon Vincent is a serving councillor in Akamkpa Local Government in Cross River State. Both lecturers are only 32 and were on the verge of completing their PhD programme.”
He said repeated visits and calls to the Imo State Police Command, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Imo State Governor's Office have produced no breakthroughs.
“Our several visits and calls to the Imo State Police Command, the DSS and the Governor's Office have not yielded any result,” Okwor told SaharaReporters.
“For our families, everything and indeed the world has stopped since May 23rd this year, and only a closure to what is happening to our Odu and Eja can restart our 'world' again.
“These two young men are Nigerians. They are active members of ASUU and promising academics.”
Okwor lamented that the families have exhausted their efforts and resources in their quest to find their sons, asking the police and the DSS in Imo State to make the outcome of their investigation and efforts public.
“We are thoroughly exhausted and emotionally drained. Therefore, your gracious help is our faintest hope of drawing the attention of the security operatives and indeed the Inspector-General of the Police to this matter,” he told SaharaReporters.
“The Imo State Police Command and the DSS in the State need to let the world know the outcome of their rescue efforts and that of their investigations,” Okwor demanded.
In a formal statement dated June 3, 2025, the management of the University of Cross River State confirmed the disappearance of the young lecturers and expressed deep concern.
“The Management, staff and students of the University of Cross River State regret the unexplained absence of Engr. Emmanuel Odu and Engr. Ndifon Vincent,” the circular read.
“According to reliable information at our disposal, the last time that anyone heard from them was in the evening of Friday, May 23, 2025.”
The university said it had been briefed that security agencies in Cross River and Imo states were cooperating on the case.
“The Acting Vice Chancellor and members of her Management team have been informed that the Commissioner of Police and the Director of the Department of State Security are working closely with their counterparts in Imo State to find the missing Lecturers,” the statement said.
The school management also noted that there had been no report of a vehicle accident involving the lecturers, calling for public assistance.
“We appeal to any member of the public who may have useful information on their whereabouts to urgently contact relevant security agencies,” it said.