The kidnappers demanded a ransom of N1 billion for 20 Oyo corps recruits

The families of 20 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) recruits who were abducted while traveling to an orientation camp have called for immediate intervention, following a ransom demand of N1 billion by their kidnappers.

The prospective corps members, who were traveling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their respective orientation camps, were reportedly kidnapped on Thursday along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.

The victims were traveling in two buses when gunmen reportedly attacked the vehicles and kidnapped them.

According to the affected families, the kidnappers demanded N50 million for each of the 20 victims, bringing the total ransom to N1 billion.

The parents made this request 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 family, Alhaja Akande and Oyebola Akande said the kidnappers had contacted them on the cell phones of the kidnapped prospective corps members.

“They have been calling us since yesterday (Friday) with ransom demands of N50 million each. They are threatening that untoward things will happen to our children if we do not comply with their demands.

“There is no way we can raise that much money now. Baba, please help us. Don’t let them kill our children,” said the parent.

The families called on the Olubadan and the police to intervene and ensure the safe and immediate release of the victims.

Also read: Kidnappers give parents of kidnapped NYSC members 24 hours to pay ransom

Responding, Ladoja assured the family that efforts were being made to rescue the prospective corps member unharmed.

“I want to guarantee that your children will be rescued unharmed. We will pass on any information we gather to you. The police are working around the clock to secure their rescue. Don’t worry, the police are up to the task, and nothing will happen to your children,” he said.

The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abimbola, also confirmed that he had communicated with the Imo State Police Command over the incident.

“I have contacted the Imo State CP. We have been talking since the day of the incident, and he assured me that the victims would be rescued unharmed,” he said.

The commissioner, however, did not reveal whether any payment had been made to the kidnappers or provide specific details about the ongoing rescue operation.

The ransom demand was previously confirmed by the Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, Isiah Akpan, who disclosed the development to The PUNCH on Friday.

Meanwhile, security agencies have intensified efforts to find and rescue the kidnapped corps recruits.

Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, said on Saturday that security operatives had used drones to identify the alleged detention location of the other victims.

But Bosso said the rescue operation was postponed after intelligence indicated that the suspected camp had been equipped with an improvised explosive device.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has deployed the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate search and rescue efforts.

The deployment is expected to strengthen coordination between security agencies involved in the operation as efforts continue to be made to secure the release of the victims.