Families of two young academics from the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Engr. Odu Emmanuel Odu and Eja Vincent Ndifon, have expressed deep concern over their continued disappearance, more than six months after being kidnapped along the Okigwe–Okwele Road in Imo State on May 23, 2025.

Speaking on behalf of both families, Ferdinard Okwor, uncle to 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 May 23,” Okwor told SaharaReporters.

According to him, the two lecturers were traveling from Lagos to Calabar after purchasing a vehicle when they were abducted.

“They were driving through Imo State from Lagos to Calabar. Both are lecturers in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UNICROSS,” he said.

Despite early public attention, including a statement from the UNICROSS chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), all attempts to contact the kidnappers or receive updates from security agencies have been unsuccessful.

“The local ASUU chapter released a statement two weeks after their kidnapping, but our efforts to reach the kidnappers or get information from the Imo State Police Command have yielded nothing,” Okwor lamented.

He added that Odu is the only son of his eldest sister, a former Students’ Union Government (SUG) President of the university, and currently serves as the department’s examination officer. Ndifon is an elected councillor in Akamkpa Local Government, Cross River State. Both men are 32 years old and were nearing completion of their PhD programs.

Okwor said repeated visits and calls to the Imo State Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Governor’s office have produced no breakthroughs.

“Our families are thoroughly exhausted and emotionally drained,” he said. “Everything has stopped since May 23. Only a resolution regarding Odu and Eja can restore our lives.”

He urged security agencies to make the outcome of their investigations public.

In a statement dated June 3, 2025, UNICROSS management confirmed the disappearance and expressed concern.

“The Management, staff, and students of UNICROSS regret the unexplained absence of Engr. Emmanuel Odu and Engr. Ndifon Vincent. The last reliable report of their whereabouts was on the evening of May 23, 2025,” the circular read.

The university also noted that security agencies in Cross River and Imo States were cooperating on the case and appealed to the public for any information that could assist in locating the lecturers.