Parents of prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State have appealed for urgent intervention after their abductors reportedly demanded ₦1 billion in ransom and issued a 24-hour deadline for payment.
The parents said the kidnappers demanded ₦50 million for each victim and threatened to harm their children if the money was not paid within the stipulated period.
They made the disclosure on Saturday during a visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at his private residence in Bodija, Ibadan. The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri, were also present.
The prospective corps members were travelling from Ibadan to their respective NYSC orientation camps on Thursday, October 1, when gunmen reportedly attacked two buses conveying passengers along the Owerri-Onitsha Road around Umunoha in Imo State.
The incident left families searching for information about their missing relatives as security agencies intensified efforts to locate the abductors and secure the victims’ release.
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 youths.
“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,” they appealed.
The parents urged Ladoja and the police to intervene urgently, expressing fears over the safety of their children following the ransom ultimatum.
Responding, Ladoja assured the families that efforts were underway 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,” the former Oyo State governor said.
The state Commissioner of Police, Abimbola, said he had been in contact with his Imo State counterpart, CP Audu Garba Bosso, 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 any ransom had been paid or provide operational details that could affect the ongoing rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, Bosso said security operatives had used drones to identify the suspected hideout where some of the abducted passengers were being held.
However, the planned advance on the location had been delayed by intelligence reports indicating that the camp and its surroundings might have been planted with improvised explosive devices.
According to reports, security agencies were preparing additional equipment and personnel to approach the location while reducing the risk to the hostages and rescue teams.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, had also deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate and strengthen the search-and-rescue operation.
The reported ₦1 billion ransom demand adds to the pressure on the affected families as security agencies work to secure the safe return of the abducted passengers. The number of people still in captivity has been reported differently across accounts, with earlier updates indicating that some passengers had been rescued.
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