Families of 19 graduates travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camps have been thrown into panic after kidnappers demanded a total ransom of ₦950 million for their release.
The victims were reportedly travelling to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when they were abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.
The incident occurred on Thursday after two buses carrying the prospective corps members left Bodija/Samonda Park in Ibadan on Wednesday.
The Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, Isiah Akpan, confirmed the development in an interview with PUNCH.
According to Akpan, the buses encountered heavy traffic around Benin, Edo State, which delayed their journey to Onitsha, Anambra State.
He said the buses eventually arrived in Onitsha late in the day but could not continue the journey because of the condition of the road.
As a result, the drivers and passengers spent the night in Oba before resuming their journey at about 5am on Thursday.
Akpan said the buses had barely entered Imo State when armed men emerged from the bush and attacked them.
He explained that the drivers managed to escape from the scene and raised the alarm at a nearby security checkpoint, prompting the police and military to begin a search for the abducted passengers.
However, the security operation was reportedly delayed after some villagers allegedly prevented security personnel from moving the abandoned buses from the scene.
According to Akpan, the delay affected the movement of the security personnel as they attempted to track the abductors.
The two buses were eventually left at the scene, with passengers’ belongings still inside.
Akpan said the gunmen successfully took 19 passengers, all of whom were prospective corps members, into the bush.
He said, “They blocked the two vehicles and took 19 passengers, all corps members, into the bush.”
Meanwhile, families of the abducted graduates have begun receiving ransom demands from the kidnappers.
A parent of one of the victims said the abductors contacted her through her son’s phone on Friday and demanded ₦50 million specifically for his release.
She said, “The kidnappers called with my son’s phone this morning (Friday) and demanded N50m for his release. The N50m is for only my son.”
Another mother, identified as Mrs Oladosu, whose daughter, Greatness, was travelling to Uyo, also confirmed that the kidnappers contacted the family using her daughter’s phone.
According to her, the family was able to see Greatness and some of the other abducted prospective corps members during a video call.
She said the victims were seen sitting on the ground in the bush and crying.
Mrs Oladosu expressed concern over the huge ransom being demanded from the families, particularly those who depend on small-scale businesses for their livelihoods.
She said, “They used my daughter’s number to call us. We saw her and other corps members sitting on the ground in the bush, crying. Where will petty traders get N50m? They are just going to serve Nigeria; why this punishment?”
The abduction has heightened concerns among the families of the affected graduates, who are waiting for efforts by security agencies to secure the safe release of the victims.
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