Gunmen have abducted 10 travelers along the Ijebu-Awa axis, a boundary community between Ogun and Oyo states, and demanded N25 million for their release.
Among the victims is 24-year-old Olusoji Adedapo, a former National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member who had recently completed his service in Edo State and was travelling to Ibadan when the incident occurred on Tuesday.
Adedapo’s cousin, Adeseye Timilehin, said the family learned of the abduction around 7pm after another passenger, identified as Tunde, escaped and alerted them.
According to Timilehin, the passengers had encountered heavy traffic earlier in their journey from Benin City. Despite warnings from some passengers that it was getting late, the driver continued the journey.
He said the vehicle was attacked when it reached Ijebu-Awa, forcing the passengers to flee into the surrounding bush. While Tunde escaped, the gunmen reportedly captured the others.
The family later contacted the police and learned that a search operation involving security personnel and local vigilantes had been launched, but the victims had yet to be found.
Timilehin said the kidnappers initially demanded N20 million before increasing the ransom to N25 million.
He added that the abductors allowed the family to speak with Adedapo, confirming that he was alive. The victim reportedly appealed to his relatives to seek financial assistance from friends and well-wishers.
The family said it had raised only N700,000 and appealed for urgent assistance to secure the release of the victims.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command confirmed that it was investigating the incident.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Ogunnaike, said efforts were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and secure the victims’ release.
The police also clarified that none of the abducted passengers was a serving NYSC member, contrary to reports circulating about the incident.
