Kidnappers holding prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted in Imo State have reportedly demanded N1 billion ransom and given their families 24 hours to pay.
The parents of the victims disclosed this on Saturday when they visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at his residence in Bodija, Ibadan, seeking intervention.
The 20 prospective corps members were among passengers travelling from Ibadan to various NYSC orientation camps when gunmen attacked two buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in the Umunoha area of Imo State on Thursday.
The abductors reportedly demanded N50 million for each victim, bringing the total ransom to N1 billion. The parents said the kidnappers had contacted them using the mobile phones of some of the abducted youths and threatened to harm them if the ransom was not paid.
The families appealed to Ladoja and security authorities to secure the victims’ safe release.
Ladoja assured the parents that security agencies were working to rescue the abductees unharmed, while Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, said he had been in contact with his Imo counterpart over the incident.
Meanwhile, security agencies have intensified the search for the remaining victims. Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, said security operatives had located the suspected kidnappers’ camp with the aid of drones but were delayed by intelligence indicating that improvised explosive devices had been planted around the area.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has deployed Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the rescue operation.
The Defence Headquarters had earlier said 10 passengers, including eight prospective corps members, were rescued after the attack, while joint security operations continued for those still in captivity.
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