Kidnappers who abducted 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have reportedly issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the victims’ families to raise N1 billion ransom for their release.
The affected graduates were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their respective NYSC orientation camps on Thursday when gunmen reportedly attacked two buses conveying them along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.
The abductors are said to be demanding N50 million for each of the 20 victims, bringing the total ransom demand to N1 billion.
Parents of the abducted graduates disclosed the ransom demand on Saturday when they visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at his private residence in Bodija, Ibadan.
They were accompanied by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri.
Speaking on behalf of the affected families, Alhaja Akande and Oyebola Akande said the kidnappers had been contacting them through the mobile phones of the abducted prospective corps members.
“They have been calling us since yesterday (Friday) with a demand of 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 Ladoja and the police authorities to intervene urgently and secure the safe release of their children.
Responding, Ladoja assured the families that efforts were ongoing to rescue the victims unharmed.
“I want to assure that your children would be rescued unharmed. We will relate whatever information we gather to you. The Police are working round the clock to secure their rescue. Don’t worry yourself, police are up to the task, and nothing would happen to your children,” he said.
The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, said he had been in constant communication with his Imo State counterpart over the incident.
“I had already contacted Imo State CP. We have been talking since the day of the incident, and he assured me that the victims would be rescued unhurt,” Abimbola said.
The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, disclosed on Saturday that security operatives had deployed drones and located the suspected camp where the remaining victims were being held.
He said, however, that the operation had been delayed following intelligence reports that improvised explosive devices (IEDs) had been planted around the suspected camp.
