20 abducted NYSC-bound graduates allegedly beaten as kidnappers demand N5m ransom each

The 20 graduates abducted while travelling to their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camps in Imo State have allegedly been beaten by their kidnappers, with the abductors reportedly demanding N5 million for the release of each victim.

The latest development has increased fears among the families as the reported ransom deadline approaches.

Alhaja Alimot Akande, whose 25-year-old sister, Kehinde Akande, is among the victims, said the abducted graduates had been subjected to physical assault since Saturday.

She described the situation as “horrible, scary and overwhelming” and called on the government to intensify efforts to rescue the victims.

Akande said the kidnappers had lowered their demand from N50 million per person to N5 million.

“They are still demanding N5 million. They have come down to N5 million each,” she said.

When asked if the N5 million applied individually to all 20 abducted graduates, she said: “Yes.”

She said she did not know how much had been raised because she was not privy to the arrangements between the kidnappers and the other families.

“I cannot say because I do not know how much they have told those people that they have,” she said.

According to Akande, her sister had told her that the abductors were beating the victims.

“Sir, we appeal to the government to please assist us in getting them rescued out of that place. When I spoke to my sister, they started beating them since yesterday,” she said.

She also confirmed that the female victims were not being spared.

“They are not sparing anybody. They are beating all of them,” Akande said.

She disclosed that one of the abducted corps members had been permitted to speak with his father, but alleged that the kidnappers monitored the calls to determine whether the family could raise the ransom.

Akande said the abductors would notify the victim whenever his father called and then allow him to speak.

The affected families, she added, were depending on assurances from the police while trying to raise the demanded ransom.

“The police are telling us to still be buying time. We are still looking for the money. Depending, they will see them rescued,” she said.

Oyo Government steps up engagement

The Oyo State Government has meanwhile confirmed that it is engaging the Imo State Government and security agencies over the abduction.

Oyo State Commissioner for Information Prince Dotun Oyelade said the state was actively participating in efforts to secure the release of the graduates, despite the incident taking place in Imo State.

He said the state was bringing experience from the recent kidnapping of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area to its discussions with the Imo authorities.

“We are in close contacts at government-to-government level and actively with the security apparatus in Oyo and Imo states,” Oyelade said.

“We are volunteering our template and experiences garnered during the Oriire kidnapping, and the report of the Judicial Inquiry just submitted last week by the Hon. Justice (Professor) Mojeed Owoade Panel is coming in handy in our bilateral discussions on the matter.”

Oyelade said the government could not reveal all details of its response because of the sensitive nature of the operation.

“Governments all over the world are not in the habit of disclosing all they are planning in delicate situations like this,” he said.

He, however, said the Federal Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces should explain what had been done at the national level since the incident.

“The pushback should be on the Federal Government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, who are in charge of national security, on what they have done in 72 hours,” he said.

The commissioner also mentioned Governor Seyi Makinde’s intervention regarding the abduction of students in Borno State, saying the incident happened on the same day as the Oriire kidnapping.

He said Makinde had appealed to the Federal Government to speed up efforts to rescue the Borno students.

Oyelade maintained that Oyo State would continue working for the release of its citizens despite their abduction outside the state.

“Oyo State Government had not and will not abandon its citizens. We will continue to work endlessly and desperately to secure the release of our children,” he said.

How the abduction happened

The 20 prospective corps members were reportedly kidnapped on Thursday while travelling from Ibadan in two buses to their NYSC orientation camps.

The buses came under attack along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State. The graduates were reportedly travelling to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

The abduction sparked concern among relatives after the kidnappers initially demanded N50 million for each victim — a total of N1 billion — and reportedly issued a 24-hour deadline for payment.

The victims’ parents later visited the private residence of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, in Bodija, Ibadan, seeking his intervention.

They were accompanied by Oyo State Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Abimbola and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri.

The parents told Ladoja they were unable to raise the N1 billion demanded by the kidnappers.

“They have been calling us since yesterday (Friday) with a demand for N50 million ransom each. They are threatening that anything untoward will happen to our children if we fail to heed to their request,” they said.

“There is no way we can raise such an amount at this period. Baba, kindly assist us. Don’t let them kill our children.”

Ladoja assured the parents that efforts were being made to secure the victims’ safe release.

“I want to assure that your children would be rescued unharmed. We will relate whatever information we gather to you,” he said.

“The police are working round the clock to secure their rescue. Don’t worry yourself, police are up to the task, and nothing would happen to your children.”

Abimbola also confirmed that he had been in regular contact with his Imo counterpart since the incident.

“I had already contacted Imo State CP. We have been talking since the day of incident, and he assured me that the victims would be rescued unhurt,” he said.

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