Family of Abducted Ex-NYSC Member Begs FG for Rescue

The family of an ex-National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, identified as Dapo, has appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to secure his release after he was abducted alongside nine other people on the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Road in Ogun State.

Dapo’s sister, Abigeal, disclosed that the victims were kidnapped on Tuesday shortly after leaving Ijebu-Ode for Ibadan.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro on Thursday, she said her brother had just completed his National Youth Service in Edo State and was travelling home after his passing-out parade the previous week.

According to her, Dapo had been providing updates about his journey until he sent a video showing traffic on the road. He subsequently became unreachable.

Abigeal explained that the family learnt about the abduction around 7pm after one of the passengers reportedly escaped and contacted them with information about the incident.

She said the police and local vigilantes immediately launched a search operation in the surrounding bush, but the initial operation did not produce any information about the victims’ whereabouts.

The family subsequently reported the incident at the Ijebu-Ode Police Station, where they were advised to remain calm while security operatives continued their efforts.

Abigeal disclosed that the kidnappers later contacted the family using her brother’s phone, allowing them to hear his voice briefly before demanding a ransom of N20m.

She said the abductors subsequently increased their demand to N25m and gave the family a 24-hour deadline to make payment.

According to her, the kidnappers ended the calls after refusing the family’s pleas for more time, leaving them worried about the safety of the victims.

She added that the bus conveying the passengers had been recovered alongside their luggage, which the police subsequently handed over to the affected families.

Recounting how the abduction occurred, the escaped passenger reportedly said the driver suddenly diverted onto a bush path after encountering traffic while travelling towards Ibadan.

He alleged that the vehicle had gone deeper into the bush when armed men suspected to be Fulani herders emerged, opened fire and attacked the passengers.

The survivor said one person was shot during the attack, while he managed to escape by hiding as the armed men took the remaining passengers away.

Abigeal appealed to the Federal Government, security agencies and members of the public to intervene, stressing that the victims had spent two nights in captivity and that her family could not afford the ransom demanded.

She also urged authorities to prioritise the safe rescue of all the abducted passengers.

However, the Ogun State Police Command confirmed that some people were abducted along the Ogun corridor of the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Road but denied reports that 10 corps members were among the victims.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said security operatives were working on the incident, maintaining that no corps member had been confirmed abducted.