Kidnappers torture 20 corps members, cut ransom to N100m

Etim Ekpimah

Families of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State say the kidnappers have reduced their ransom demand from N1 billion to N100 million, but claim the victims are being tortured as pressure mounts ahead of the payment deadline.

According to relatives, the abductors initially demanded N50 million for each victim, totalling N1 billion. The figure has now reportedly been reduced to N5 million per person, bringing the total demand to N100 million.

The victims were kidnapped last Thursday when gunmen attacked vehicles transporting them from Ibadan to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states. The attack occurred along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.

Speaking on behalf of affected families, Alhaja Alimot Akande said the situation had become increasingly distressing after reports emerged that the captives were being beaten by their abductors.

“It has been horrible, scary and overwhelming,” she said, adding that even female victims were allegedly being assaulted.

Akande, whose 25-year-old sister, Kehinde, is among those abducted, said the reduction in ransom had done little to ease the families’ fears.

“They are still demanding N5 million each. They are not sparing anybody. They are beating all of them,” she said, while appealing to government authorities and security agencies to secure the victims’ release.

The families also accused the transport company that carried the graduates of failing to cooperate with efforts to trace other affected passengers.

According to them, requests for next-of-kin details were declined when they visited the firm’s Ibadan office seeking information that could help coordinate with other families.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government said it was working closely with the Imo State Government and security agencies to facilitate the victims’ rescue.

Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, said Oyo was sharing lessons from previous kidnapping cases while maintaining constant engagement with authorities handling the operation.

He, however, argued that the Federal Government, which oversees national security, should provide updates on measures being taken to secure the release of the abducted graduates.

The Imo State Police Command confirmed that the victims remain in captivity but said tactical teams, supported by other security agencies, had intensified rescue operations.

Police spokesperson Henry Okoye said security operatives had recovered the affected buses and rescued 10 passengers at the scene, while efforts continue to locate the remaining victims and apprehend the kidnappers.