The abduction of prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State has taken a distressing turn, with families reporting that their relatives are being physically assaulted by their captors. The victims were abducted last Thursday while traveling from Ibadan to their NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states. Gunmen attacked the vehicles along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.
The kidnappers initially demanded N50 million per victim, totaling N1 billion for the 20 people in captivity. However, they have reduced their demand to N5 million per victim. Despite this reduction, the situation remains distressing for the families, who are struggling to raise the funds. Alhaja Alimot Akande, whose 25-year-old sister Kehinde Akande is among the abducted, described the situation as "horrible, scary and overwhelming."
According to Akande, the kidnappers are beating all the captives, including female corps members, without distinction. The families have been relying on communication between some of the captives and their relatives to cope with the situation. One victim was allowed to speak with his father, although the kidnappers allegedly used the calls to assess the family's ability to raise the demanded ransom.
The abduction has raised questions about passenger safety and the responsibilities of transport operators. The victims' parents have accused Eduak King Transport Company, which conveyed the graduates from Ibadan, of failing to provide information that could help families establish contact with other affected relatives. The parents visited the company's premises, seeking the next-of-kin details of passengers aboard the vehicles involved.
The Oyo State Government has expressed its collaboration with the Imo State Government and security agencies to secure the victims' release. Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, stated that the government is actively involved in the rescue efforts, sharing experience from a recent abduction crisis in Oriire Local Government Area. However, the state government would not disclose every detail of its strategy due to the sensitivity of the operation.
The Imo State Police Command confirmed that the prospective corps members remain in captivity, with rescue operations ongoing. Police spokesperson Henry Okoye stated that tactical teams and other security assets have been deployed to rescue the abducted persons and arrest the suspected kidnappers. The police have recovered both buses involved in the incident and rescued 10 victims at the scene.
The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of young Nigerians traveling to fulfill national service obligations. For the families involved, the immediate priority remains securing the safe return of their relatives, while the authorities face pressure to strengthen security along major highways and prevent similar attacks on travelers. The affected section of the expressway has been reopened, with security personnel deployed to protect commuters.
Key points
- The kidnappers have reduced their ransom demand from N50 million to N5 million per victim.
- The abduction has raised concerns about passenger safety and transport operator responsibilities.
- The Oyo and Imo state governments are collaborating with security agencies on rescue efforts.
