By Our Reporter
Families of nine members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and a driver abducted along the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan road in Ogun State have appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to secure their immediate release.
The abductors have reportedly demanded a ransom of N25 million and given the victims’ families until Thursday to meet their demand.
The 10 travellers were kidnapped on Tuesday evening while travelling from Ijebu-Ode towards Ibadan.
One of the victims, identified as Dapo, was a recently discharged corps member who completed his national service in Edo State last week and was returning to Ibadan when the incident occurred.
His sister, Abigeal, who raised the alarm, said the family had been thrown into distress by the abduction, particularly because they lacked the financial capacity to meet the kidnappers’ demand.
According to her, Dapo had been updating the family about his journey until he sent a video showing the traffic situation along the road. That communication turned out to be the last they received from him.
She said the family learnt about the incident shortly after 7pm on Tuesday when one of the corps members travelling in the vehicle reportedly escaped and contacted another family member.
Abigeal explained that the survivor informed the family that the bus had been attacked and the occupants, including her brother, were taken away by the kidnappers.
Following the report, police officers and local vigilantes reportedly launched a search operation in the surrounding forest in an attempt to locate the victims.
The family subsequently visited the Ijebu-Ode Police Station on Wednesday to report the incident and seek information about the whereabouts of their relatives.
Abigeal said police officers initially urged them to remain calm, explaining that a search operation was ongoing. However, the operatives reportedly returned less than an hour later without any breakthrough.
The family was subsequently advised to await contact from the abductors.
She said the kidnappers eventually called using her brother’s mobile phone while the family was returning from the police station to the motor park.
The family reportedly rushed back to the police station, where they briefly heard Dapo’s voice before the abductors took over the conversation and demanded N20 million.
According to her, the family pleaded for a reduction in the ransom, but the kidnappers abruptly ended the call.
She added that the abductors called again at about 6.59pm on Wednesday, increasing their demand to N25 million and warning that the money must be paid by Thursday.
“They used his phone to call us. We ran back to the police station. We just heard his voice. He said, ‘Hello, Mummy’. We asked what was happening, but they collected the phone from him,” she recounted.
Abigeal said the family was deeply worried about the condition of the victims, adding that they had already spent two nights in captivity.
She also disclosed that the family had recovered Dapo’s luggage and other belongings after the vehicle was found and taken to the police station.
The victim’s sister said the police handed over his bags to the family on Wednesday, but there was still no information about the whereabouts of the abducted travellers.
She further expressed concern over reports that the driver had diverted from the main road into a bush path while attempting to navigate the traffic.
According to her, the corps member who escaped told the family that passengers had questioned the driver and urged him to reverse after he turned into the bush, but he allegedly ignored their warnings.
Meanwhile, the surviving corps member has provided an account of how the attack happened.
In a voice note, he said the bus was heading towards Ibadan after passing through Ijebu-Ode when the driver suddenly turned into a bush path at about 7pm.
He said the passengers became apprehensive and questioned the driver over the unusual route, but their concerns were allegedly ignored.
The survivor claimed that shortly after the vehicle entered the bush, armed men emerged, attacked the occupants and opened fire.
He alleged that one of the passengers was shot during the attack, while he escaped being taken away by hiding.
He said he later found himself in the bush after the gunmen had taken the other occupants away.
The survivor identified the attackers as Fulani, although the claim could not be independently verified.
He also disclosed that some of the victims’ mobile phones were left inside the vehicle.
The survivor further confirmed that nine corps members and the driver were in the vehicle, bringing the total number of abducted persons to 10.
The families have appealed to the Federal Government, the Ogun and Oyo State governments, security agencies and other relevant authorities to intensify rescue efforts.
Abigeal said the family was unable to raise the N25 million demanded by the kidnappers and feared for the safety of the victims.
She urged the authorities to intervene urgently, stressing that the abductees had already spent two nights in the kidnappers’ custody.
As of the time of filing this report, the 10 travellers remained in captivity, while their families continued to appeal for urgent government intervention to secure their freedom.