By Afolayan Sunday
Tension and panic have engulfed families of the prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who were abducted while traveling from Oyo State, as their captors have slammed a 24-hour ultimatum for the payment of a massive ransom.
The victims, numbering 20 prospective corps members originating from Oyo State, were traveling from Ibadan heading toward orientation camps when they were waylaid and intercepted along a transit route in Imo State.
The parents disclosed the ultimatum on Saturday when they visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at his private residence in Bodija, Ibadan, alongside the state Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri.
Speaking on behalf of the affected families, Alhaja Akande and Oyebola Akande said the abductors had been contacting them through the mobile phones of the kidnapped prospective corps members.
“They have been calling us since yesterday (Friday) with a demand for N50m ransom each. They are threatening that anything untoward will happen to our children if we fail to heed their request.
“There is no way we can raise such an amount at this time. Baba, kindly assist us. Don’t let them kill our children,” the parents said.
The parents appealed to Ladoja and the police commissioner to intervene and secure the immediate release of their children.
Responding, Ladoja assured the parents that efforts were underway to rescue the victims unharmed.
He said, “I want to assure you that your children would be rescued unharmed. We will relate whatever information we gather to you. The Police are working round the clock to secure their rescue. Don’t worry yourself; the police are up to the task, and nothing will happen to your children.”
Also speaking, the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, said he had contacted his counterpart in Imo State over the incident.
“I had already contacted Imo State CP. We have been talking since the day of the incident, and he assured me that the victims would be rescued unhurt,” he said.
The police commissioner did not disclose whether any ransom had been paid or provide details of ongoing rescue operations.
