Kidnappers Set 24-Hour Ransom Deadline for Abducted NYSC Graduates

24-HOUR RANSOM DEADLINE

Parents of prospective National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members abducted while travelling from Oyo State to orientation camps say their children’s abductors have demanded a combined ransom of ₦1 billion and given them 24 hours to raise the money.

The parents made the claim as anxiety intensified over the fate of the graduates abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State.

The latest ransom demand is yet to be independently confirmed by the police or another official security agency. However, earlier reports have established that the abductors have contacted some families and demanded ₦50 million for each victim.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the new claim has further increased pressure on the affected families, who are appealing for urgent intervention to secure the safe return of their children.

HOW THE ABDUCTION HAPPENED

The prospective corps members were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, towards NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom when gunmen reportedly intercepted two commercial buses in Imo State.

The attack occurred around the Umunoha area along the Owerri-Onitsha Road.According to reports from the transport company, the buses had left Bodija/Samonda Park in Ibadan on Wednesday.

The journey was delayed by heavy traffic around Benin, Edo State, and the buses later reached Onitsha, Anambra State. The travellers reportedly spent the night in Oba before continuing their journey at about 5am the following morning.

The buses had barely entered Imo State when gunmen emerged from the bush, blocked the vehicles and took passengers away.

The Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, Isiah Akpan, earlier said 19 passengers, all prospective corps members, were taken into the bush.

However, the police and other reports have referred to 20 prospective corps members, while a military account said 20 people were abducted and 10 passengers, including eight prospective corps members, were later rescued.

The differing figures have not been fully reconciled publicly.

FAMILIES RECEIVE RANSOM DEMANDS

The ransom demands have now become the major concern for the families.

Channels Television reported that some parents had confirmed receiving ransom demands and appealed to the government to intervene.

Earlier, Akpan said some families had been contacted and told to pay ₦50 million for each abducted passenger. The demand would amount to ₦950 million if applied to the 19 victims identified by Akpan.

The latest claim by parents puts the total demand at ₦1 billion, alongside an alleged 24-hour deadline.

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ValidViewNetwork reports that the difference between the ₦950 million figure previously reported and the latest ₦1 billion claim may be linked to the differing accounts over the number of abducted persons, but there is not enough independently verified information to establish that as the reason.

MOTHER SAYS VICTIMS WERE SEEN IN THE BUSH

One of the parents, Mrs Oladosu, previously said her daughter, Greatness, was among those travelling to Uyo. She said the abductors contacted the family using her daughter’s phone and that the family was able to see Greatness and other victims during a video call.

According to her account, the victims were seen sitting on the ground in the bush and crying. She questioned how ordinary families could raise the amount being demanded.

Another parent, Alimotu Akanke, said her son, Akande Farouq, who was posted to Abia State, managed to send a brief message to the family before communication was lost.

The message reportedly contained only the word:“Kidnappers!”

10 VICTIMS REPORTEDLY RESCUED

The abduction triggered a major search operation involving security agencies.

The Imo State Police Command earlier reported that 10 victims had been rescued within hours of the attack. However, authorities had not publicly established whether all or some of those rescued were among the prospective corps members taken from the two buses.

A military account subsequently said 10 passengers, including eight identified prospective corps members, were rescued unharmed, while a joint operation continued for those still missing.

The uncertainty has added to the distress of families still waiting for information.

POLICE INTENSIFY SEARCH OPERATION

The Inspector-General of Police has since deployed Deputy Inspector-General of Police Shehu Nadada, the DIG in charge of Operations, to Imo State to coordinate the search for the abducted prospective corps members and other passengers.

Additional tactical teams and operational resources have also been deployed.

The operation is being coordinated with other security agencies as efforts continue to locate the remaining victims and secure their release.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the security operation remains focused on recovering the abducted persons safely, while authorities are also working to establish the exact number of people still unaccounted for.

OYO GOVERNMENT RESPONDS

The Oyo State Government has condemned the abduction and assured affected families that it is working with relevant stakeholders to secure the release of the victims.

Families of the abducted graduates also visited the Oyo State Government Secretariat to protest the situation and seek urgent intervention.

Sunday Odukoya, Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security, reportedly met with the affected families and assured them that the state government was engaging relevant security authorities.

WHAT REMAINS UNCLEAR

Several details remain subject to official clarification. These include the exact number of people initially abducted, the number still in captivity, the identities of those rescued and the precise ransom amount currently being demanded.

While reports have confirmed ransom contacts, the ₦1 billion figure and alleged 24-hour deadline have not yet been independently confirmed by the police in the sources reviewed for this update.

The reported ₦50 million demand per victim, however, has been independently reported by multiple Nigerian news outlets.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the immediate priority remains the safe recovery of the affected graduates, with security agencies expected to provide clearer information as the rescue operation develops.