Parents of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members kidnapped while travelling from Oyo State said their abductors gave them 24 hours to pay a N1 billion ransom. The parents disclosed the demand on Saturday during a visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at his residence in Bodija, Ibadan.
The group arrived alongside Oyo State Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Abimbola and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri. Gunmen had attacked two buses carrying the graduates on Thursday along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State. The victims were heading to their NYSC orientation camps.
The abductors demanded N50 million for each victim, bringing the total to N1 billion. They contacted the families through the mobile phones of some of the kidnapped corps members. Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited Isiah Akpan confirmed the ransom demand on Friday.
Speaking on behalf of the affected families, Alhaja Akande and Oyebola Akande said the kidnappers had called repeatedly. “They have been calling us since yesterday 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,” the parents stated.
They added: “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 to Oba Ladoja and security authorities to intervene and secure the safe release of their children. Meanwhile, security agencies continued search operations in the area.
The Imo State Police Command earlier reported the rescue of some victims, though confirmation that they were among the Oyo graduates remained pending.
