Families seek help over N50m-per-victim ransom demand for Imo abductees

Families of prospective corps members abducted in Imo State have appealed for help after receiving demands for N50m for each victim’s release.

Relatives visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at his Bodija residence on Saturday, alongside Oyo State Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Abimbola and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri. They asked the monarch and police to help secure their children’s release.

Parents told Punch that the abductors had been contacting them through the victims’ phones since Friday. Punch reported that the families were given a 24-hour deadline and put the total demand at N1bn for 20 prospective corps members. Channels Television corroborated the N50m-per-person demand but did not report that deadline.

Transport operator Isiah Akpan, managing director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, also confirmed the per-person demand in the reports. He told Channels Television that the buses left Ibadan on Wednesday, were delayed around Benin and spent the night in Oba before continuing towards Imo at about 5am on Thursday.

The buses were attacked near Umunoha on the Owerri-Onitsha Road. Accounts differ on the number abducted: Punch refers to 20 prospective corps members, while Akpan told Channels Television that 19 passengers were taken. Channels said a reported bus manifest listed 30 passengers, but the identities of those abducted and rescued remained unclear.

Channels reported that police announced the rescue of 10 people after the attack, but said it was unclear whether they were among the prospective corps members taken from the two buses. The reports do not establish a current total still in captivity.

NaijaTrend earlier reported the police deployment to support the search here.

Ladoja assured the relatives that efforts were underway to rescue the victims. Abimbola said he had been in contact with the Imo commissioner of police, but did not disclose whether a ransom had been paid or give operational details.

Sources: Punch, Channels Television