By Ade Oyeyemi
Abductors of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members from Oyo State have reportedly demanded N1bn ransom for their release, giving the victims’ families 24 hours to raise the money.
The parents disclosed the demand on Saturday when they visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at his Bodija residence in Ibadan.
The meeting was attended by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri.
The prospective corps members were travelling from Ibadan to their respective NYSC orientation camps on Thursday when gunmen reportedly attacked the two buses conveying them along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.
According to the affected families, the kidnappers are demanding N50m for each of the 20 victims, bringing the total ransom to N1bn.
The Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, Isiah Akpan, had also confirmed the ransom demand on Friday.
Speaking on behalf of the families, Alhaja Akande and Oyebola Akande said the kidnappers had been contacting them through the mobile phones of some of the abducted corps members.
“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 appealed.
They urged the Olubadan and the police authorities to intervene and secure the immediate release of the victims.
Responding, Ladoja assured the families that efforts were being made to rescue the abducted corps members safely.
“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 said he had been in communication with his Imo counterpart 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 the families or any other party had paid any ransom or provide details of the ongoing rescue operation.
Meanwhile, security agencies have intensified efforts to locate and rescue the victims.
The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, said security operatives had identified the suspected location where the abducted corps members were being held through drone surveillance.
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Bosso, however, said the operation had been delayed after intelligence indicated that improvised explosive devices had been planted around the suspected camp.
The development comes after the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the search-and-rescue operation.
