By Ademola Ade
Anxiety mounted yesterday among families of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members abducted in Imo State after their captors demanded N1 billion ransom and issued a 24-hour ultimatum for payment.
The abductors reportedly demanded N50 million for each of the 20 graduates, warning that the victims could be harmed if the ransom was not paid within the stipulated period.
The distraught parents disclosed this when they visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at his private residence in Bodija, Ibadan, alongside the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri, seeking urgent intervention for the safe release of their children.
The 20 prospective corps members were abducted on Thursday while travelling from Ibadan to their respective NYSC orientation camps in two buses.
The buses were reportedly attacked by gunmen along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.
Speaking on behalf of the affected families, Alhaja Akande and Oyebola Akande said the abductors had been contacting them through the mobile phones of the kidnapped graduates since Friday.
“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,” the parents pleaded.
They appealed to the Olubadan and the police commissioner to urgently intervene, expressing fears that the lives of the graduates could be endangered if the abductors carried out their threats.
Responding, Oba Ladoja assured the families that efforts were being made by security agencies to secure the release of the victims alive and unhurt.
He said: “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.”
Also speaking, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, said he had been in constant communication with his Imo counterpart since the incident occurred.
According to him, the Imo State Commissioner of Police had assured him that efforts were ongoing to rescue the victims safely.
“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.
The police commissioner, however, did not disclose whether any ransom had been paid or give details of the ongoing rescue operation.
The development has further heightened tension among the families as the reported 24-hour deadline issued by the abductors puts additional pressure on security agencies working to secure the safe release of the 20 prospective corps members.
