Parents of the 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted in Imo State have appealed to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, to help secure the release of their children.
The parents visited Ladoja at his residence in Bodija, Ibadan, alongside the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri.
They said the kidnappers were demanding ₦50 million for each victim, bringing the total ransom to ₦1 billion.
The parents also said the abductors threatened to harm the victims if the ransom was not paid within 24 hours.
The 20 prospective corps members were kidnapped last Thursday after gunmen attacked their vehicles along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State, while they were travelling from Ibadan to different NYSC orientation camps.
One of the parents, Iyabo Akande, whose daughter Kehinde is among the abducted graduates, also accused the transport company that conveyed the victims of refusing to provide information that could help affected families.
She alleged that Eduak King Transport Company in Samonda, Ibadan, refused to release the next-of-kin details of passengers when parents visited its office.
Another parent, Olawale Olaleye, said the families were surprised to find the company loading another vehicle when they visited its premises for assistance.
Speaking on behalf of the families at Ladoja’s residence, Alhaja Akande and Oyebola Akande said the kidnappers had been contacting them since Friday.
“They have been calling us with a demand for N50 million ransom each. They are threatening that anything untoward will happen to our children if we fail to heed their request,” they said.
“There is no way we can raise such an amount at this time. Baba, kindly assist us. Don’t let them kill our children.”
Ladoja assured the families that security agencies were working to rescue the victims alive and unharmed.
The Oyo State Commissioner of Police also said he had remained in contact with his Imo counterpart since the incident and expressed confidence that the victims would be rescued safely.
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Operations, Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the rescue operation.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, said Nadada arrived in the state with two commissioners of police and conducted an assessment of the ongoing search-and-rescue operation.
The police said the DIG reviewed the deployment of personnel and operational assets and issued further directives to strengthen the response.
The force added that it was working with other security agencies to rescue the abducted persons and apprehend those responsible.
Nadada also urged members of the public to remain calm and provide the police with credible information that could assist the rescue operation.
