Gunmen Demand N950m for Release of 19 Abducted NYSC Members in Imo State

Gunmen abducted 19 NYSC corps members traveling from Ibadan to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State on Thursday, with abductors demanding a total ransom of N950 million.

Abduction Details

The victims were traveling in two buses owned by Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited when attacked near Umunoha in Imo State after spending the night in Oba due to road conditions. [1] The Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, Isiah Akpan, confirmed the incident and explained that the two buses left Bodija/Samonda Park in Ibadan on Wednesday but were delayed by traffic around Benin, Edo State. [1] The vehicles reached Onitsha, Anambra State, late in the day, and the drivers and passengers spent the night in Oba because of the condition of the road. [1] The buses resumed their journey around 5 am on Thursday and had barely entered Imo State when gunmen emerged from the bush, blocked the two vehicles, and took 19 passengers, all corps members, into the bush. [1] The drivers managed to escape and alerted security personnel at a nearby checkpoint, prompting the police and military to begin searching the area. [1] The search operation was initially complicated when some villagers allegedly prevented security personnel from removing the abandoned buses from the scene, which delayed the movement of security personnel as they attempted to pursue the abductors. [1] The two buses were subsequently left at the scene, with passengers’ belongings scattered inside the vehicles. [1] The Imo State Police Command had on Thursday night said 10 victims were rescued, and the Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, explained that security agencies were on the trail of the abductors and had launched a coordinated search for the remaining victims. [1] Okoye could not confirm if the rescued victims were among the abducted corps members. [1] A manifest from the two affected vehicles listed 30 passengers, 15 in each bus, while two other vehicles operated by the same company and heading to Abia State escaped the attack. [1]

Ransom Demands and Family Reactions

Abductors contacted families via victims' phones demanding N50 million per person; families viewed a video call showing victims crying in the bush. [1] The gunmen demanded N50m for each of the victims. [1] The abductors contacted some of the victims’ families and demanded N50m for each person. [1] A parent of one of the victims, who did not want to be named for security reasons, stated that the abductors contacted her through her son’s phone and demanded N50m for his release, noting that the N50m is for only her son. [1] Another mother, who identified herself as Mrs Oladosu, whose daughter, Greatness, was travelling to Uyo, said the abductors briefly contacted the family through her daughter’s phone and that the family was able to see Greatness and other victims during a video call. [1] Mrs Oladosu added that they saw her daughter and other corps members sitting on the ground in the bush, crying, and asked where petty traders would get N50m, noting that the victims are just going to serve Nigeria. [1] In a viral video, Mrs Alimotu Akanke, the mother of another victim, Akande Farouq, said she had been tracking her son’s journey when the distress message arrived. [1] Farouq, who was posted to Abia State, managed to send a one-word message, “Kidnappers!”, to his family WhatsApp group before his telephone line went dead. [1] Among those on the manifest were Akande Kehinde, Olaleye Mary, Oladosu Greatness, Obafunsho Rhoda, Abdulrof Anifat, Esther Oyede, Hassan Usman, Ayomide Isa, Mary Makinde, Azeez Adejoke and Abdulrazaq Anifat. [1]

Oyo State Government Response

Oyo State Government condemned the abduction, stated it is coordinating with security agencies, Imo State, and NYSC to secure releases, and urged families to remain calm. [1] The Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, stated the government’s position in a statement issued in Ibadan on Friday. [1] The government was in close communication with relevant security agencies, the Imo State Government and the NYSC leadership to ensure an urgent and coordinated response. [1] Governor Seyi Makinde had directed that all necessary resources be deployed to secure the safe return of the victims. [1] The governor emphasised that the safety and well-being of every Oyo State indigene, both within and outside the state, remained a top priority. [1] The statement read that the government is fully committed to securing the safe release of the children and will stop at nothing to ensure that they are reunited with their families without harm. [1] The government urged the affected families to remain calm, assuring them that steps were taken to secure the victims’ release. [1] It also called on security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators. [3] The Oyo State Government condemned the incident, describing the abduction as distressing and reprehensible. [3] The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, explained that Governor Seyi Makinde had directed that all necessary resources be deployed, emphasising that the safety and well-being of every indigene of the state, both within and outside its borders, remained a top priority. [3] Oyelade said the government received with deep concern the distressing report of the abduction of some corps members of Oyo State origin in Imo State. [3] The government urged the families of the abducted corps members to remain calm, assuring them that the government was actively engaged on all fronts. [3] Oyelade also called on security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the corps members and bring the perpetrators of the criminal act to justice. [3]

Social Media Appeals

Friends of victims such as Precious Oladipupo, Wahab Ayandare, and Oyindamola Adeoye launched campaigns by seeking public support for their release. [1] Some purported friends of the abducted prospective NYSC members have taken to social media to seek support for their rescue. [1] One of the victims was identified as Precious Oladipupo, a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University. [1] Writing on X, one Adebayo (@Adebayoakim1) solicited public support for the safe release of Wahab Ayandare, whom he claimed was also abducted in the same incident. [1] Another friend, Akinlabi Abayomi (@Mubiiiiin), appealed for help for another alleged victim, Oyindamola Adeoye. [1] Abayomi said the abductors had demanded N50m for her release. [1]

What to watch next: Security agencies continue coordinated search efforts for the remaining victims while the Oyo State Government maintains close communication with relevant agencies, the Imo State Government and NYSC leadership to secure releases.