Parents of 20 Abducted NYSC Members Seek Olubadan’s Intervention

BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS

Parents of the 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members abducted in Imo State yesterday appealed to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, to intervene and secure the release of their children from their abductors.

The distraught parents, who visited Oba Ladoja at his private residence in Bodija, Ibadan, alongside the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri, said the kidnappers had threatened to kill the victims if a N1 billion ransom was not paid within 24 hours.

The development came as the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the rescue of the abducted PCMs and other passengers.

The 20 PCMs were attacked by gunmen last Thursday while travelling from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State, en route to NYSC orientation camps in different vehicles.

Parents accuse transport company

Some of the victims’ parents accused the transport company that conveyed the PCMs from Ibadan of allegedly withholding vital passenger information when they approached its office for assistance.

The parents alleged that when they visited Eduak King Transport Company in Samonda, Ibadan, in a desperate effort to obtain information that could help them contact other affected families, the company refused to provide the list of next-of-kin of passengers aboard the ill-fated vehicle.

One of the affected mothers, Mrs Iyabo Akande, whose daughter, Kehinde Akande, was among the abducted graduates, called on the Inspector-General of Police and the government to investigate the transport operator and ensure that anyone found culpable was held accountable.

She said: “Please, our government and the Inspector-General of Police should help us investigate the transport company, Eduak King, located at Samonda, and put fear into them. Call them to order.

“Yesterday morning at their office, we were asking for the next-of-kin list so we could contact other parents, but they refused to present it or assist us. They must be held accountable.”

Another parent, Olawale Olaleye, whose daughter was also among the victims, expressed concern over what he described as the company’s continued operation despite the abduction and the distress caused to the affected families.

According to him, the parents were surprised to find the company loading another vehicle when they visited its premises seeking information and assistance.

He said: “We went to Samonda, to Eduak King. Surprisingly, they were already loading another vehicle. People are complaining. The company should be held liable.”

Parents plead with Olubadan

Speaking at the Olubadan’s residence, Alhaja Akande and Oyebola Akande, who spoke on behalf of the affected families, said the kidnappers had been contacting them since Friday, demanding N50 million for each victim.

“They have been calling us since yesterday (Friday) with a demand for N50 million ransom each. They are threatening that anything untoward will happen to our children if we fail to heed their request,” the parents pleaded.

“There is no way we can raise such an amount at this time. Baba, kindly assist us. Don’t let them kill our children.”

They appealed to Oba Ladoja and the police commissioner to intervene urgently, expressing fears that the lives of their children could be in danger if the abductors carried out their threats.

Responding, Oba Ladoja assured the families that security agencies were making concerted efforts to rescue the abducted graduates alive and unhurt.

He said: “I want to assure you that your children will be rescued unharmed. We will relay whatever information we gather to you. The police are working round the clock to secure their rescue. Don’t worry yourself; the police are up to the task, and nothing will happen to your children.”

The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, said he had remained in constant communication with his Imo State counterpart since the incident and expressed confidence that the victims would be rescued safely.

“I had already contacted the Imo State CP. We have been talking since the day of the incident, and he assured me that the victims would be rescued unhurt,” he said.

The commissioner, however, did not disclose whether any ransom had been paid by the families or provide specific details of the ongoing rescue operation.

IGP deploys DIG to Imo

Meanwhile, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, said in a statement yesterday that IGP Disu had deployed DIG Shehu Nadada, Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, to Imo State to coordinate the rescue operation.

Iniedu said the DIG arrived in Imo State with two Commissioners of Police and conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and ongoing search-and-rescue efforts.

He said Nadada also reviewed the operational strategies, deployment of personnel and operational assets and issued further directives aimed at strengthening the coordinated response.

According to the police spokesperson, the assessment was conducted alongside the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso; the Commissioner of Police, Federal Operations, Akpan Anifiok; the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force; other service commanders; and members of the Management Team of the Imo State Police Command.

Iniedu added: “The police are working in close coordination with sister security agencies to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted persons and the apprehension of the perpetrators.

“The DIG Operations, DIG Shehu Umar Nadada, assured members of the public that the Nigeria Police Force is committed to securing the safe rescue of the 20 abducted persons and will sustain the operation until the mission is successfully concluded.

“He urged members of the public and the media to remain calm and vigilant and encouraged anyone with credible information that could assist the operation to promptly contact the police or the nearest security formation. All information received will be treated with strict confidentiality.

“Further updates will be issued as the operation progresses.”