By Chioma Onuegbu

Uyo —The family of one of the prospective National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members from Akwa Ibom State, kidnapped on August 17, 2023, in Zamfara State, Solomon Daniel has thanked God that their son has finally regained his freedom after one year in the kidnappers’ den.

Recall that Daniel, a graduate of Science Technology, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Ikot Ekpene, was kidnapped alongside other seven prospective NYSC members and a driver of Akwa Ibom Transport Company, AKTC, on their way to Sokoto Orientation camp.

Daniel was the last of the nine persons, comprising eight prospective NYSC members and an AKTC driver, kidnapped to regain his freedom from their captors.

Some of the family members, who spoke with Vanguard, weekend, said they received the news of his release last Friday morning with great joy.

Solomon Daniel’s mother, Madam Margaret Daniel, who was full of excitement while she received friends and well wishers that came to celebrate and rejoice with the family, weekend, said she could not thank God enough for saving and keeping her son alive.

Fielding questions from newsmen, the widow and mother of two said: “I cannot thank my God enough for this great thing he has done for me, for keeping my son alive. I thank God for also keeping me alive to see this day. I am grateful to him because I will see my son again.

“Few months ago when we were told that they would release my son, I was happy. But those kidnappers only released one person and left my son, Solomon, behind. When that happened, I almost lost hope of ever seeing him again.

“So, I am very happy and I will forever be grateful to the Almighty God for answering the prayer of a poor widow. I thank God for bringing back happiness into my life. When I received a call from my son that Friday morning, you cannot imagine the joy in my heart when I heard his voice, I was filled with great joy.

“And I am also grateful to all the members of this family, my relatives, the community leaders especially the village head for their support. I don’t know if I would be alive today to celebrate this good news if they were not there for me.

Another family member, Mr. Mfon Friday expressed appreciation to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Governor Umo Eno and member of House of Representatives, Unyime Idem for their commitment towards the release of all the eight kidnapped prospective NYSC members.

“I so much thank God for what he has done for us. I thank him for helping ensuring that the son of this poor woman regained his freedom. We are grateful to God that Solomon is alive, because we hear of victims who were killed after payment of ransom. In fact, we have been celebrating this great news since Friday night.”