Kidnappers who abducted 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members travelling from Oyo State to their orientation camps have reportedly given their families 24 hours to raise about N1 billion in ransom.
The abductors are said to be demanding N50 million for each victim and have threatened to harm the graduates if the ransom is not paid within the stated deadline.
The affected families disclosed the development on Saturday when they visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at his residence in Bodija, Ibadan. The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri, were also present.
The prospective corps members were reportedly abducted on Thursday after gunmen attacked two buses conveying them from Ibadan to their respective NYSC orientation camps along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.
Speaking on behalf of the families, Alhaja Akande and Oyebola Akande said the kidnappers had been contacting them through the mobile phones of the abducted graduates.
“They have been calling us since yesterday (Friday) with a demand for N50m ransom each. They are threatening that anything untoward will happen to our children if we fail to heed to their request.
“There is no way we can raise such an amount at this period. Baba, kindly assist us. Don’t let them kill our children,” they appealed.
The parents urged the Olubadan and security authorities to intervene urgently and secure the safe release of the victims.
Responding, Ladoja assured the families that security agencies were working to rescue the abducted graduates safely.
The Oyo State Commissioner of Police also said he had been in communication with his Imo State counterpart, Audu Garba Bosso, since the incident occurred.
“I had already contacted Imo State CP. We have been talking since the day of incident, and he assured me that the victims would be rescued unhurt,” Abimbola said.
He did not disclose whether any ransom had been paid or provide details of the ongoing rescue operation.
Meanwhile, the Imo State Police Command said security operatives had identified the suspected kidnappers’ hideout using drone technology.
Bosso said the planned rescue operation had been delayed after intelligence indicated that improvised explosive devices had allegedly been planted around the suspected camp, creating additional risks for both the hostages and security personnel.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has also deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the search-and-rescue operation.
The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of travellers along major highways in the South-East, particularly as the victims were travelling to commence their mandatory one-year national service.
With the reported 24-hour ransom deadline, the families are calling for urgent intervention from the authorities to secure the safe release of the abducted prospective corps members.
