Olushola Omogbehin
The kidnappers of the 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members abducted in Imo State on Thursday, have reduced their ransom to N5million each.
The prospective corps members who were travelling from Ibadan to their various NYSC orientation camps were said to have been subjected to severe beatings by their captors.
According to Vanguard news, the kidnapped victims who were travelling to their orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states, were attacked by gunmen along the Owerri-Onitsha Road.
The abductors who initially demanded for N50m for each of the 20 victims and gave a 24-hour ultimatum to produce the money or risk harm coming to their children, have now reduced it to N5m each.
The parents had asked for the intervention of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri.
Lamenting over the incident, one of the affected parents, Alhaja Alimot Akande, said the abductors had subjected the victims to physical assault since their abduction.
Akande, whose 25-year-old sister, Kehinde Akande, is among those abducted, said the kidnappers had reduced their demand from the earlier N50m per victim to N5m each.
“They are still demanding N5 million. They have come down to N5 million each,” she said.
She said “Yes” when asked whether the N5m was being demanded for each of the 20 abducted prospective corps members.
Speaking further, she said the situation became more disturbing after she spoke with her sister and learned that the abductors had begun beating the victims.
“We appeal to the government to please assist us in getting them rescued from that place. When I spoke to my sister, they started beating them yesterday (Sunday),” she said.
Another parents, Mrs Iyabo Akande, whose daughter, Kehinde Akande, was among the abducted graduates, appealed to the Inspector-General of Police and the government to investigate the transport operator and ensure that those found culpable were held accountable.
“Our government and the Inspector-General of Police should help us investigate the transport company, Eduak King, located at the Samonda area of the state and call them to order.
“We were at their office yesterday morning (Sunday morning) asking for the next of kin list so we could contact other parents, but they refused to present it or assist us. The company’s driver, Jeremiah, took our children. They must be held accountable.”
Mr Olawale Olaleye, another parent, expressed concern over what he described as the company’s continued transport operations, despite the abduction and the distress of the affected families.
He said the parents were surprised to find the company loading another vehicle when they visited its premises to seek information and assistance.
Olaleye said: “We went to Samonda, to Eduak King. Surprisingly, they were already loading another vehicle. People are complaining; the company should be held liable.”
Responding, the Oyo State government said it was maintaining close contact with its Imo State counterpart and security agencies as efforts intensify to secure the release of the abducted graduates.
The Commissioner for Information, Mr Dotun Oyelade, said the state government was not standing aside because the abduction occurred outside Oyo State, stressing that it was actively involved in efforts to bring the victims home.
He said government was using the experience from the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area as part of its engagement with the authorities in Imo.
