The abductors of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members travelling to their orientation camps have demanded a total ransom of N1bn for their release, the victims’ parents have said.
The parents disclosed this on Saturday when they visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at his residence in Bodija, Ibadan, alongside the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri.
The 20 graduates were travelling from Ibadan to their respective NYSC orientation camps on Thursday when gunmen attacked the two buses conveying them along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.
According to the affected families, the kidnappers demanded N50m for each victim, bringing the total ransom request to N1bn.
The Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, Isiah Akpan, had also confirmed the ransom demand on Friday.
Speaking for the families, Alhaja Akande and Oyebola Akande said the abductors had continued to contact them using 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 to their request.
“There is no way we can raise such an amount at this period. Baba, kindly assist us. Dont let them kill our children,” the parents said.
They appealed to the Olubadan and the police commissioner to intervene and ensure that the victims were rescued immediately.
Responding to the plea, Ladoja assured the families that efforts were being made to secure the release of the abducted graduates without harm.
“I want to assure 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, police are up to the task, and nothing would happen to your children.”
The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abimbola, also said he had been in communication with his Imo counterpart since the incident occurred.
“I had already contacted Imo State CP. We have been talking since the day of incident, and he assured me that the victims would be rescued unhurt,” he said.
Abimbola did not disclose whether any part of the ransom had been paid or give details of the ongoing rescue operation.
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Meanwhile, security agencies have intensified efforts to locate and rescue the remaining victims.
The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, said on Saturday that security operatives had used drones to identify the suspected location where the victims were being held.
He, however, said the rescue operation had been delayed because intelligence gathered by the security agencies indicated that improvised explosive devices had been planted around the suspected camp.
The development comes as the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, steps up the operation by deploying the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to Imo State.
Nadada is expected to coordinate the search-and-rescue operation and work with other security personnel involved in efforts to secure the safe release of the abducted prospective corps members.