Gunmen have kidnapped 10 passengers, including a recently discharged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, along the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan road in Ogun State.
The victims were reportedly travelling in a commercial bus when armed men intercepted the vehicle and whisked them away into a nearby forest.
Two NYSC members were said to be among the passengers. While one reportedly escaped, the other, identified as Dapo, remains in captivity alongside nine other victims.
Dapo’s sister, Abigael, confirmed the incident, explaining that her brother had recently completed his NYSC programme in Edo State and was travelling back to Ibadan when the attack occurred.
According to her, the passengers were attacked shortly after passing through Ijebu-Ode. The gunmen allegedly threatened to harm or kill them if they refused to cooperate.
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She disclosed that the incident was reported to the Ijebu-Ode Police Station, adding that the kidnappers later contacted the family through Dapo’s phone and demanded N20 million as ransom.
However, the demand was reportedly increased to N25 million during a subsequent telephone conversation around 6:59 pm. The kidnappers also gave the family a 24-hour deadline to provide the money.
Abigael explained that her brother had been communicating with the family throughout his journey from Edo State and had even sent videos showing traffic congestion shortly before contact was lost.
She said the family received news of the abduction shortly after 7 pm on Tuesday when another corps member who escaped from the attackers contacted them.
The escaped passenger reportedly informed the family that the bus had been attacked and that Dapo and nine others had been taken away.
Abigael added that the survivor told them police officers and local vigilantes had entered the forest to search for the victims.
She further disclosed that family members visited the Ijebu-Ode Police Station on Wednesday and were informed that security operatives had yet to return from the search operation.
Although the commercial bus and some belongings of the passengers were reportedly recovered and taken to the police station, the 10 victims remained in the kidnappers’ custody.
The escaped corps member also gave an account of the incident in a voice recording shared with journalists.
He alleged that the driver suddenly diverted from the main road into a bush path after encountering traffic, causing passengers to become suspicious and demand that he turn back.
However, the driver allegedly continued towards the forest, where armed men reportedly opened fire on the vehicle.
The survivor claimed that one passenger was shot during the attack, while he managed to escape by hiding inside the bush as the gunmen took the remaining passengers away.
He also said some victims’ mobile phones were abandoned inside the bus during the incident.
Meanwhile, a senior police source in Ogun State confirmed the abduction but declined to provide further details about the attack or ongoing efforts to rescue the victims.
Abigael appealed to the government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the release of the abductees, expressing concern that the family could not afford the N25 million ransom.
She said the victims had already spent two nights with their abductors and pleaded for urgent intervention to prevent further harm.
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