Kidnapped Corps Members Regain Freedom, Pay Ransom

Five Youth Corp members kidnapped on their way from orientation camp have been released by the suspected kidnappers after spending days in the kidnappers’ den.

The Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya said the victims were abandoned by the suspected kidnappers after the men of the police force were on their trail.

However, family sources said the victims who were on their way from Enugu State, where they had undergone the mandatory orientation camp of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were released after the payment of ransom to the kidnappers.

The corps members were kidnapped in the Ifon axis of the state and demanded N15 million ransom. The brother of one of the victims, Lawal Happiness, who cried out over the development said the kidnappers had reduced the ransom to N1 million from N30 million per victim

He said: “My name is Lawal Happiness, a brother to the copper member kidnapped on her way back from Enugu Camp to Akure, whose name is Adewole Paul Oluwaseun, an indigene of Akure and a graduate of the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE). Alongside four other corp members [Oluwadara Feranmi (f), Andrew Patience (f), Oribamise Taiwo (f), and Ajayi Lekan (m),.

“After they were done with their NYSC orientation programme, they reported to their PPA accordingly and came home to get her stuff for proper resumption. They embarked on this journey on July 18, 2024, and left Enugu State at 9 a.m.

“We monitored her movement to Onitsha, where their bus was slightly delayed, and they later continued their journey to Akure. That was around 3 pm on 18th July 2024. They left Onitsha around 3 p.m., got to Asaba around 5 p.m., and got to Ifon by 10:15 p.m. After that, we couldn’t get connected to them.

But the PPRO said the victims were abandoned by their assailants after the police mounted pressure on the kidnappers.

Odunlami-Omisanya said policemen drawn from the Tactical Squad led by the Area Commander of Owo, ACP Olufemi Awoyale continuously combing the Bush with sustained technical support frustrated the assailants and were forced to abandon the victims at Oyinbo/ Sanusi Camp.

The victims are currently being attended to at the Police Medical Services Owo and will be handed over to their family members after being debriefed.