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Kidnappers of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members from Oyo State have demanded N1 billion ransom and given their parents 24 hours to pay or risk harm coming to the victims.
The distressed parents disclosed the development on yesterday 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.
The 20 graduates were travelling from Ibadan to their NYSC orientation camps on Thursday when gunmen attacked the two buses conveying them along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.
The abductors reportedly demanded N50 million for each victim, bringing the total ransom demand to N1 billion.
As gathered, the ransom was placed on the heads of the remaining 20 corps members after 10 victims reportedly escaped, which could have brought the figures up to 30.
Speaking on behalf of the affected families, Alhaja Alimot Akande and Oyebola Michael 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 for N50m ransom each. They are threatening that anything untoward will happen to our children if we fail to heed their demand.
“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 parents that efforts were being intensified 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.
In his response, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Abimbola, said: “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,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, said security operatives had located the suspected camp where the remaining victims were being held through drone surveillance.
Bosso, however, said the rescue operation had been delayed by intelligence indicating that the camp had been planted with improvised explosive devices.
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 police authorities have not disclosed whether any ransom has been paid or provided details of the ongoing operation.
