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Families of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted in Imo State say their loved ones have been given a 24-hour deadline to meet a ransom demand for their release.
The young graduates were travelling from Ibadan to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen reportedly attacked two buses around the Umunoha axis of Mbaitoli Local Government Area.
According to the affected families, the abductors have demanded 50 million naira for each victim, bringing the reported total ransom to 1 billion naira. The parents said the kidnappers made contact through the phones of some of the abducted passengers and threatened the victims if their demands were not met.
The distressed families have appealed to authorities and traditional leaders for urgent intervention. Meanwhile, security agencies are continuing efforts to locate the victims, with police authorities saying a suspected hideout has been identified through intelligence and drone surveillance.
Security officials say the rescue operation is being carefully planned because the suspected camp is believed to have been protected with improvised explosive devices. Authorities have deployed additional personnel and equipment as efforts continue to secure the safe return of those still in captivity.
