Families of 19 prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted in Imo State are facing a terrifying ransom demand of N950m, with kidnappers reportedly asking for N50m for each victim.
The graduates were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom when gunmen intercepted two buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State, on Thursday.
The Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, Isiah Akpan, whose company operated the buses, confirmed the abduction and said the attackers took 19 passengers into the bush.
According to him, the buses left Ibadan on Wednesday but were delayed by traffic around Benin, Edo State. They reached Onitsha late and spent the night in Oba before resuming the journey around 5am the following day.
They had barely entered Imo State when armed men emerged from the bush, blocked the vehicles and abducted the passengers.
The drivers escaped and alerted security personnel at a nearby checkpoint, prompting a search operation.
Families receive ransom calls
The abduction took a more disturbing turn when the kidnappers began contacting the victims’ families.
A parent, who requested anonymity, said the abductors called with her son’s phone and demanded N50m for his release.
Another mother, Mrs Oladosu, said her daughter, Greatness, was among those abducted while travelling to Uyo.
She said the kidnappers briefly contacted the family through her daughter’s phone and allowed them to see Greatness and other captives during a video call.
“They used my daughter’s number to call us. We saw her and other corps members sitting on the ground in the bush, crying,” she said.
“Where will petty traders get N50m? They are just going to serve Nigeria; why this punishment?”
Another victim, Akande Farouq, reportedly managed to send the word “Kidnappers!” to his family WhatsApp group before his phone went dead.
Police launch rescue operation
The Imo State Police Command said on Thursday night that 10 victims had been rescued, while security agencies continued searching for the abductors and others still missing.
However, police spokesperson Henry Okoye could not immediately confirm whether the rescued persons were among the abducted corps members.
Akpan said the rescue effort was initially complicated after some villagers allegedly prevented security personnel from removing the abandoned buses from the scene.
The vehicles were eventually left at the location, with passengers’ belongings scattered inside.
Friends seek help online
As families await news of their loved ones, friends of some of the victims have launched appeals on social media.
Among those identified as victims are Precious Oladipupo, a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Wahab Ayandare and Oyindamola Adeoye.
Social media users have called for urgent intervention to secure their release.
Oyo government intervenes
The Oyo State Government condemned the abduction and said Governor Seyi Makinde had directed that all necessary resources be deployed towards securing the victims’ safe return.
Commissioner for Information Dotun Oyelade said the state was working with security agencies, the Imo State Government and the NYSC leadership.
“We are fully committed to securing the safe release of our children and will stop at nothing to ensure that they are reunited with their families without harm,” he said.
The government urged the affected families to remain calm and called for intensified efforts to rescue the victims and arrest the perpetrators.
Growing threat to corps members
The Imo abduction has renewed concerns over the safety of graduates travelling to NYSC camps.
It comes barely six weeks after 15 prospective corps members were abducted in Kogi State while travelling from Bayelsa to Abuja. They were later rescued from Egume Forest.
Other corps members have also been kidnapped in recent years, with some securing their freedom after ransom payments.
Security analyst Chidi Omeje said criminal groups could be exploiting the predictable movement of graduates during NYSC mobilisation periods.
He urged the Federal Government and NYSC to strengthen security along known kidnapping corridors.
Security expert Olalekan Jackson-Ojo called for a review of deployment arrangements, including consideration of allowing corps members to serve closer to their home regions where security conditions are particularly dangerous.
Educationist Dele Olapeju said the repeated abductions were eroding parents’ confidence in the scheme and could discourage graduates from participating.
