The family of an abducted National Youth Service Corps member, identified as Dapo, has appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to secure his release alongside nine other victims kidnapped along the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Road in Ogun State.
Dapo’s sister, Abigeal, made the appeal while narrating how the victims were abducted shortly after leaving Ijebu-Ode for Ibadan on Tuesday.
She disclosed that the kidnappers initially demanded N20m from the family but later increased the ransom to N25m, giving them 24 hours to make the payment.
According to her, Dapo had been providing updates about his journey from Edo State, where he completed his National Youth Service Corps programme the previous week.
She explained that the last communication from her brother was a video showing traffic along the road before his phone became unreachable.
The family reportedly received information about the abduction from another corps member who escaped from the kidnappers.
Abigeal said the matter was immediately reported to the Ijebu-Ode Police Station, while police officers and local vigilantes reportedly searched the surrounding bush shortly after the incident.
She added that the kidnappers later contacted the family using Dapo’s phone, allowing them to hear his voice briefly before demanding the ransom.
The family said the abductors threatened to harm the victims if the money was not paid within the stipulated deadline.
Abigeal further disclosed that the vehicle conveying the victims and their luggage had been recovered and taken to the police station, but her brother and the other nine passengers remained in captivity.
She appealed to the government, security agencies and members of the public to assist in securing the victims’ safe return, stressing that the family could not afford the N25m ransom.
Inside Ogun state:
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Meanwhile, a corps member who escaped from the kidnappers said the incident happened after the driver suddenly diverted into a bush path while attempting to navigate traffic.
He explained that armed men attacked the vehicle, opened fire and took the other passengers away. He reportedly survived by hiding during the attack.
However, the Ogun State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed that some people were abducted along the Ogun State corridor of the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Road.
Babaseyi, however, denied reports that corps members were among the victims, insisting that no NYSC member was abducted.
He assured that security operatives were working to address the incident.
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