The 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State are reportedly being subjected to physical assault by their captors, as the kidnappers have reduced their ransom demand from N1 billion to N100 million.
The development came as the deadline initially given by the abductors approached, leaving families increasingly desperate to secure the release of the graduates.
The prospective corps members were abducted last Thursday after gunmen attacked vehicles conveying them from Ibadan to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The attack occurred along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.
The kidnappers initially demanded N50 million for each of the 20 victims, amounting to N1 billion, and reportedly gave the families 24 hours to raise the money.
The families had earlier appealed to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, for help during a visit to 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.
One of the affected relatives, Alhaja Alimot Akande, said the abductors had begun beating the victims, including the women.
Akande, whose 25-year-old sister, Kehinde Akande, is among those held, said the kidnappers had reduced the ransom to N5 million per victim, bringing the total demand to N100 million.
“They are still demanding N5 million. They have come down to N5 million each,” she said.
She said the reduction had done little to ease the families’ fears because the victims remained in captivity and were allegedly being assaulted.
“It has been horrible, scary and overwhelming,” Akande said.
She added that she became particularly distressed after speaking with her sister and learning that the abductors had started beating the victims.
“We appeal to the government to please assist us in getting them rescued from that place. When I spoke to my sister, they started beating them yesterday (Sunday),” she said.
Asked whether the female victims were also being assaulted, Akande said the kidnappers were not sparing anyone.
“They are not sparing anybody. They are beating all of them,” she said.
Akande also said one of the abducted corps members had been allowed to speak with his father, but alleged that the kidnappers were using the calls to assess the family’s ability to raise the ransom.
She said the abductors would alert the victim whenever his father called and allow him to speak because they believed the father could provide the money.
The families, she said, were relying on assurances from security agencies while continuing efforts to raise the demanded ransom.
“The police are telling us to still buy time. We are still looking for the money. Depending on it, they will see them rescued,” she said.
Parents Accuse Transport Company
The families have also accused Eduak King Transport Company of withholding information that could help them contact relatives of other passengers affected by the abduction.
The parents said they visited the company’s office in the Samonda area of Ibadan seeking the next-of-kin details of passengers who were aboard the affected vehicles.
Mrs Iyabo Akande, whose daughter Kehinde is among the abducted graduates, called on the Inspector-General of Police and the government to investigate the transport company.
“Our government and the Inspector-General of Police should help us investigate the transport company, Eduak King, located at the Samonda area of the state and call them to order,” she said.
“We were at their office yesterday morning asking for the next of kin list so we could contact other parents, but they refused to present it or assist us. The company’s driver, Jeremiah, took our children. They must be held accountable.”
Another parent, Olawale Olaleye, alleged that the company was continuing its operations despite the abduction.
He said the parents were surprised to find another vehicle being loaded when they visited the company’s premises to seek information.
“We went to Samonda, to Eduak King. Surprisingly, they were already loading another vehicle. People are complaining; the company should be held liable,” he said.
When the newspaper visited the transport company’s premises, other operators were carrying out their normal activities, while the affected company’s premises were locked and no official was available to respond to the allegations.
Oyo Government Steps Up Intervention
The Oyo State Government said it was working with the Imo State Government and security agencies in both states to secure the release of the abducted graduates.
The Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, said the state government was actively involved despite the abduction taking place outside Oyo State.
He said the government was drawing on its experience from the recent abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area in its discussions with authorities in Imo.
“We are in close contact at government-to-government level and actively working with the security apparatus in Oyo and Imo states,” Oyelade said.
He said the state was also sharing lessons from its handling of the Oriire kidnapping and the findings of the Judicial Inquiry headed by Justice Mojeed Owoade.
Oyelade said details of the government’s strategy could not be made public because of the sensitivity of the rescue operation.
He, however, said the Federal Government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces should explain the broader national security response to the abduction.
“The pushback should be on the federal government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, who are in charge of national security, on what they have done in 72 hours,” he said.
Oyelade said Oyo State would continue working to secure the release of its citizens.
“Oyo State government has not and will not abandon its citizens. We will continue to work endlessly and desperately to secure the release of our children,” he said.
Imo Police Confirm Victims Remain in Captivity
Meanwhile, the Imo State Police Command confirmed that the abducted prospective corps members remained in captivity.
The command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, said tactical teams and operational assets had been deployed in collaboration with other security agencies to rescue the victims and arrest the kidnappers.
He said both buses involved in the incident had been recovered and 10 victims rescued at the scene.
“The rescued victims are in safe hands and are being attended to. The exact number of persons abducted is being verified and will be made public once confirmed,” Okoye said.
According to him, security operatives were conducting coordinated search-and-rescue operations supported by intelligence-led efforts to track the suspects.
The affected section of the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway has since been reopened to traffic, while security personnel remain deployed in the area.
The families are meanwhile appealing for urgent intervention to ensure that the remaining victims are rescued alive and before the abductors’ threats are carried out.
