Parents of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted while travelling from Oyo State to their orientation camps have appealed for urgent intervention after their abductors demanded a total ransom of N1 billion for their release.
The parents made the appeal 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.
The 20 prospective corps members were reportedly travelling from Ibadan to their respective NYSC orientation camps on Thursday when gunmen attacked the two buses conveying them along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.
According to the affected families, the abductors have demanded N50 million for each victim, bringing the total ransom demand to N1 billion.
The Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, Isiah Akpan, had earlier confirmed the ransom demand.
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 prospective corps members.
“They have been calling us since yesterday (Friday) with a demand of N50 million 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 families called on Oba Ladoja and the police authorities to intervene urgently and ensure the safe release of their children.
Responding, Oba Ladoja assured the parents that concerted efforts were being made to rescue the victims unharmed.
“I want to assure you 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, Olugbenga Abimbola, disclosed that he had been in contact with his Imo State counterpart over the incident.
“I had already contacted Imo State CP. We have been talking since the day of the incident, and he assured me that the victims would be rescued unhurt,” Abimbola said.
He, however, did not disclose whether any ransom had been paid or provide specific details about the ongoing rescue operation.
Meanwhile, security agencies have intensified efforts to locate and rescue the abducted prospective corps members.
The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, said security operatives had identified the suspected location where the remaining victims were being held through drone surveillance.
He, however, explained that the operation had been delayed following intelligence that the suspected camp had been fitted 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.
Source: PunchNewspaper
