Imo NYSC Kidnap: Abductors Demand ₦950m For 19 Graduates
Abductors who seized 19 graduates travelling to their National Youth Service Corps orientation camps have reportedly demanded a total ransom of ₦950 million for their release.
The victims were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, in two buses when gunmen attacked the vehicles along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State, on Thursday.
According to a report published by Punch on Saturday, the abductors contacted some of the victims’ families and demanded ₦50 million for each person.
The buses, operated by Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, were carrying prospective corps members heading to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The company’s Managing Director, Isiah Akpan, confirmed that the buses were travelling from Ibadan when they were intercepted by gunmen after entering Imo State.
He said the vehicles had earlier been delayed by traffic around Benin, Edo State, before reaching Onitsha, Anambra State, where the travellers spent the night because of the condition of the road.
The buses reportedly resumed their journey around 5am on Thursday. According to Akpan, the gunmen emerged from the bush shortly after the vehicles entered Imo State, blocked both buses and took passengers into the bush.
The drivers reportedly escaped and alerted security personnel at a nearby checkpoint.
Security agencies subsequently launched search operations in the area, while the two buses were recovered from the scene.
The Imo State Police Command had earlier confirmed that 10 victims were rescued, while efforts continued to locate other abducted passengers.
Families of the missing graduates have since been thrown into anxiety following the ransom demands.
One parent told Punch that the kidnappers contacted her through her son’s phone and demanded ₦50 million for his release.
Another mother said her daughter and other victims were briefly seen during a video call made by the abductors. She said the victims were seen sitting on the ground in the bush.
One of the victims, Akande Farouq, who was reportedly posted to Abia State, managed to send a brief message to his family before his phone became unreachable.
The incident has also triggered appeals on social media, with friends of some of the abducted graduates calling for support towards securing their safe release.
The Oyo State Government has condemned the abduction and said it was working with security agencies, the Imo State Government and the NYSC leadership over the situation.
The state government said Governor Seyi Makinde had directed that necessary resources be deployed towards securing the victims’ safe return.
Security agencies are continuing search-and-rescue operations for the remaining victims, while authorities have urged the public to remain calm and provide useful information that could assist the investigation.
The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of prospective corps members travelling across states to attend NYSC orientation camps.
