Former Vice- President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC)Atiku Abubakar has called for the immediate rescue of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted by gunmen in Imo State, as their captors reportedly reduced the ransom demand to N100m.
He described the abduction as “heartbreaking” and urged the Federal and Imo State governments, as well as security agencies, to intensify efforts to secure the release of the victims.
The graduates were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states respectively, when two buses conveying them were attacked around 6:30am on Thursday along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in the Umunoha area of Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
The abductors reportedly initially demanded N50m for each of the 20 victims, amounting to N1bn, but have reduced the demand to N5m per person, bringing the total ransom to N100m.
The development was disclosed by one of the victims’ parents, Alhaja Alimot Akande, who said the reduction had not alleviated the families’ concerns because the abductees were allegedly being beaten by their captors.
“The kidnappers had reduced their demand from the earlier N50m per victim to N5m each,” Akande said.
“They are still demanding N5m. They have come down to N5m each.”
The families have also disputed an earlier police account that 10 passengers were rescued following the attack.
According to the parents, the victims who escaped the gunmen did so by running into the bush, rather than being rescued by security personnel, while the 20 prospective corps members remained in captivity.
Some of the abducted graduates identified by their families include Makinde Mary Oluwapelumi, Akande Kehinde Morufat, Abdul Temiloluwa Sarah, Adeniran Mariam Olulola, Adefioye Ayomide Isaac, Adewale Paul Iyanuoluwa and Oyede Esther Funmilayo.
The parents released the names during a visit to the private residence of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, in Bodija, Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State, on Saturday.
Reacting to the incident, Atiku, in a post on X on Monday, called for urgent action to secure the release of those still being held.
“The abduction of 20 travellers, including prospective corps members, in Imo State is heartbreaking. Some have been rescued, but others remain in captivity,” he said.
“I urge the Federal and Imo State governments, and all security agencies, to act with urgency and bring everyone still being held home safely.”
Security agencies have stepped up operations to locate the abductors and rescue the victims.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, alongside two commissioners of police, to coordinate the rescue effort.
The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, subsequently said security operatives had identified the suspected kidnappers’ hideout using intelligence and drone surveillance.
An operation to storm the hideout was, however, delayed after security personnel reportedly discovered intelligence indicating that the area had been rigged with improvised explosive devices.
Specialised equipment is expected to be deployed to enable security forces to safely access the location.
Atiku also drew attention to the continued captivity of schoolchildren abducted from Mussa and Lassa communities in Borno State.
He said more than 70 pupils and students abducted from the two communities remained in captivity months after their abduction, urging the government not to allow their plight to fade from public attention.
“In Borno, more than 70 pupils and students abducted from Mussa and Lassa remain in captivity months later. These children must not be forgotten. Their families deserve clear updates, and the public deserves answers,” Atiku in of said.
Suspected insurgents attacked schools in Mussa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area, on May 15 and abducted dozens of children. The Borno State Government subsequently put the number of missing pupils at about 44.
On June 29, insurgents attacked Government Day Secondary School in Lassa while students were taking their National Examinations Council examinations. Ten students were rescued in an immediate military operation, while subsequent reports indicated that 36 students and a teacher remained in captivity.
The Borno State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria had, by late September, appealed for the rescue of 78 schoolchildren from Mussa and Lassa who had spent more than 100 days in captivity.
Atiku blamed what he described as failures in the Tinubu administration’s security strategy for the continued attacks, arguing that Nigerians remained exposed despite assurances that resources saved from the removal of the fuel subsidy would be channelled towards improving security.
He said Nigerians were increasingly vulnerable to kidnappers on roads, in communities and around schools, adding that young people were now also being targeted while travelling to NYSC orientation camps
The ADC candidate further questioned the award of pipeline security contracts to companies he described as politically connected, insisting that the protection of lives and property should remain the government’s primary responsibility.
