Abductors Demand N950m Ransom for 19 NYSC Prospective Corps Members

Abductors of 19 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members have reportedly demanded a total ransom of N950 million for their release after gunmen attacked two buses conveying the graduates along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State.

The victims were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their respective NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when the incident occurred on Thursday.

The Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, Isiah Akpan, who confirmed the incident to Saturday PUNCH on Friday, said the kidnappers had demanded N50 million for each abducted passenger.

According to Akpan, the two buses, which belonged to his company, departed Bodija/Samonda Park in Ibadan on Wednesday but encountered traffic delays around Benin City, Edo State, before arriving in Onitsha, Anambra State, late in the day.

He explained that the drivers and passengers could not continue their journey that night because of road conditions and consequently spent the night in Oba, Anambra State.

Akpan said the buses resumed their journey at about 5 a.m. on Thursday but came under attack shortly after entering Imo State.

He said armed men emerged from the bush, blocked the two vehicles and forced the 19 prospective corps members into the bush.

“The gunmen blocked the two vehicles and took 19 passengers, all corps members, into the bush,” he reportedly said.

The transport company’s managing director added that the drivers escaped from the scene and alerted security personnel at a nearby checkpoint, prompting the police and military to commence search operations for the abducted passengers.

He, however, alleged that the operation initially encountered difficulties after some villagers reportedly prevented security operatives from moving the abandoned buses away from the scene, delaying efforts to pursue the kidnappers.

The two vehicles were subsequently left at the scene, with the passengers’ belongings reportedly scattered inside.

The reported ransom demand has heightened anxiety among the victims’ families, some of whom were said to have been contacted by the abductors.

Meanwhile, the Imo State Police Command announced on Thursday night that 10 victims had been rescued.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, said security agencies had launched a coordinated search operation and were tracking the abductors to secure the release of the remaining victims.

However, Okoye did not confirm whether the 10 rescued persons were among the 19 prospective corps members reportedly abducted along the highway.

The search for the missing passengers was ongoing as of the time of the report, while the reported ransom demand and the identities of those rescued remained subject to further confirmation.