Abductors of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members have threatened to kill them if the ransom of a staggering 1 billion naira demanded for their release is not paid within 24 hours.
The beleaguered parents of the corps members made public the threat of the abductors on Saturday when they visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at his private residence in Bodija, Ibadan, to seek urgent intervention for the safe return of their children.
The parents were accompanied by Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri.
Recall that the 20 graduates were abducted on Thursday, Nigeria’s Independence Day, along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State. They had left Ibadan the previous day in two buses for their respective NYSC orientation camps.
Speaking at the monarch’s residence, the parents said the abductors had been reaching them with the phone of one of the victims, saying there was no way they could raise the ransom on such short notice.
One Alhaja Akande and Oyebola Akande, who spoke on behalf of the affected families, said the kidnappers had been calling since Friday, insisting on the payment of N50m for each victim and threatening the lives of the young graduates should their demands not be met.
“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 pleaded.
They appealed to the Olubadan and the police commissioner to intervene urgently, expressing fears that the lives of their children could be in danger if the abductors carried out their threats.
Responding to the appeal, Oba Ladoja assured the families that concerted efforts were being made by security agencies to rescue the abducted graduates alive and unhurt.
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, police are up to the task, and nothing will happen to your children.”
Also speaking, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, disclosed that he had been in constant communication with his counterpart in Imo State since the incident occurred, expressing confidence that the victims would be rescued safely.
“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.
Earlier in the day, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Garba Bosso, disclosed that security operatives had used drones to locate the suspected camp where the remaining victims were being held.
He, however, said the operation had been delayed following intelligence indicating that improvised explosive devices had been planted around the camp.
The issuance of an ultimatum by the abductors has heightened apprehension as uncertainty and anguish grip the affected families, as it further places pressure on efforts to secure the safe return of the 20 prospective corps members
