Parents of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members kidnapped on their way from Oyo State to their orientation camps have appealed for urgent help, saying the abductors demanded N1bn within 24 hours.
The parents spoke on Saturday when they visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at his Bodija residence. They were joined by Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri.
The 20 graduates were travelling from Ibadan on Thursday when gunmen attacked their two buses along Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State. The kidnappers reportedly demanded N50m for each victim.
Alhaja Akande and Oyebola Akande, speaking for the families, said the abductors had been calling from the victims’ phones.
“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.
Ladoja assured them the victims would be rescued unharmed, while Abimbola said he had contacted the Imo CP, who promised their rescue.
Imo CP Audu Garba Bosso said drones located the suspected camp, but explosives delayed the operation. IGP Olatunji Disu also deployed DIG Operations Shehu Nadada to coordinate the rescue.
