Oyo, Imo join forces to rescue 20 corps members
The Oyo and Imo state governments are working with security agencies to secure the safe release of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State.
The victims, who are graduates of Oyo State origin, were travelling from Ibadan to their NYSC orientation camps on Thursday when gunmen attacked two buses conveying them along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.
Abimbola Joseph
The Oyo and Imo state governments are working with security agencies to secure the safe release of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State.
The victims, who are graduates of Oyo State origin, were travelling from Ibadan to their NYSC orientation camps on Thursday when gunmen attacked two buses conveying them along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.
The Oyo State Government said on Sunday that it was maintaining close contact with the Imo Government while engaging security agencies in both states to facilitate the victims’ safe release.
In a statement issued in Ibadan by the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, the government said it was also providing relevant experience from previous kidnapping incidents in Oyo State to support the ongoing efforts.
“Oyo State is volunteering the templates and experiences it garnered during the Oriire kidnapping incident,” Oyelade said.
He added that the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Oriire abduction, submitted last week by a panel led by Justice (Professor) Mojeed Owoade, was also being considered in the bilateral discussions.
The abductors reportedly demanded N50m for each of the 20 victims, putting the total ransom demand at N1bn.
The Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, Isiah Akpan, had confirmed the abduction to PUNCH Online on Friday.
Oyelade said the government would not disclose all measures being taken because details of sensitive security operations could compromise efforts to rescue the victims.
He said the focus should also remain on the Federal Government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces regarding the national security response to the incident.
The commissioner said the Oyo Government would continue working with the Imo Government, security agencies and other stakeholders until the abducted corps members were safely returned.
The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of graduates travelling to NYSC orientation camps, particularly on highways vulnerable to attacks.
