BREAKING: Kidnappers Give Oyo Corps Members’ Parents 24 Hours to Pay Ransom

Parents of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members from Oyo State who were abducted in Imo State have said the kidnappers gave them 24 hours to pay a total ransom of ₦1 billion for their release.

The victims were travelling from Ibadan to their respective NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen attacked two buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in the Umunoha area of Imo State on Thursday.

According to the affected families, the abductors contacted them through the mobile phones of some of the kidnapped corps members and demanded ₦50 million for each victim.

The parents disclosed the development on Saturday when they visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at his 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 families appealed for urgent intervention, saying they could not raise the amount demanded by the abductors within the given deadline.

The attack occurred after the two buses, operated by Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, left the Bodija/Samonda Park in Ibadan. The vehicles reportedly spent the night in Oba after traffic delays and resumed their journey at about 5 a.m. on Thursday.

The Managing Director of the transport company, Isiah Akpan, said gunmen emerged from the bush shortly after the buses entered Imo State and forced the passengers into the bush. The drivers reportedly escaped and alerted security personnel.

The Imo State Police Command has since launched a search operation for the victims. Police authorities said security operatives had located the suspected kidnappers’ camp using drones, but the operation was delayed after intelligence indicated that improvised explosive devices had been planted around the location.

Speaking to the families, the Olubadan assured them that efforts were being made to secure the victims’ safe release. The Oyo State Government has also condemned the abduction and said Governor Seyi Makinde directed that necessary resources be deployed towards securing the victims’ release.

The development has heightened concerns over the safety of prospective corps members travelling across the country for their mandatory orientation programmes.