The alarming situation unfolded on Thursday when the graduates were abducted while traveling from Ibadan to their NYSC orientation camps. Armed assailants attacked their buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.
The families are now pleading for urgent intervention, having visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, alongside the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, to seek help for the safe return of their loved ones.
Parents Alhaja and Oyebola Akande shared that the kidnappers have been in constant contact since Friday, reiterating their ransom demands and issuing threats against the young graduates if their conditions are not met.
“We cannot raise such an amount at this time. Please, do not let them kill our children,” they implored.
In response, Oba Ladoja assured the families that security agencies are making every effort to secure the release of the abducted corps members unharmed. “I want to assure you that your children would be rescued alive,” he emphasized.
The police commissioner, Olugbenga Abimbola, confirmed ongoing communication with his counterpart in Imo State and expressed optimism about the safe rescue of the victims. “We have been in talks since the incident occurred,” he stated.
However, the police did not reveal any details about possible ransom payments or the specifics of ongoing rescue operations, leaving families in a state of anxiety as the deadline looms.
The situation has heightened fears among the families, who worry that the kidnappers may act on their threats. The 24-hour ultimatum places immense pressure on all involved to act swiftly.
As the clock ticks down, the community and authorities are rallying to support the affected families in hopes of a safe resolution to this tragic situation.
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