The 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted by gunmen in Imo State have allegedly been subjected to physical assault by their captors, as the kidnappers reportedly reduced their ransom demand from N50 million to N5 million per victim.
The prospective corps members were abducted on Thursday while travelling from Ibadan to their NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
They were reportedly attacked along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State, while travelling in two buses.
A relative of one of the victims, Alhaja Alimot Akande, said the abductors initially demanded N50 million for each victim but had now reduced the ransom to N5 million.
“They are still demanding N5 million. They have come down to N5 million each,” she said.
Akande also alleged that the abductors had started beating the victims, including the women.
“When I spoke to my sister, they started beating them since yesterday,” she said.
Asked whether the female victims were also being assaulted, Akande replied: “They are not sparing anybody. They are beating all of them.”
She further disclosed that one of the victims was allowed to speak with his father, adding that the abductors reportedly monitored the calls to assess the families’ ability to raise the ransom.
The latest development has heightened concerns over the safety of the abducted prospective corps members, particularly following reports that some of the victims had earlier been rescued.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government said it was working with the Imo State Government and security agencies to secure the release of the victims.
The Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said the state government was drawing on its experience from the recent Oriire abduction to assist efforts to secure the victims’ freedom.
“Oyo State Government has not and will not abandon its citizens. We will continue to work endlessly and desperately to secure the release of our children,” he said.
The reported abduction and alleged torture triggered angry and emotional reactions on social media, with commenters questioning the security situation, the handling of the incident and the continued deployment of prospective corps members to areas perceived to be unsafe.
Victor Onoja, writing as @Lollipopboi0123, questioned the identity of the attackers, saying: “Is it kidnappers (immoral state residents) or bandits? Because I know no bandit can survive in Igboland”.
ERA SPEAKS, @boi_newera, condemned the reported violence, saying: “I honestly don’t understand the mentality behind hurting fellow humans just to get money from the government. Why not confront the government instead? These are innocent people who are simply trying to survive.”
Hassan Nurudeen Olawale, @_Pr3ttymind, questioned how information about the victims was reaching the public, asking: “How do they pass that information to the public?”
Begin, @Inviiin, expressed concern about parents being forced to negotiate ransom payments while NYSC continued with deployments.
“Shey e no dey unfortunate say parents dey negotiate N5m per child but NYSC still posting the next batch… We are so cooked!” the commenter wrote.
Another commenter, Olamide, @Iam_lammy, drew attention to other Nigerians reportedly being held in captivity, writing: “Schoolchildren have been in captivity for 143 days. Just look at what they are bothered about.”
Princewisdom, @princewisdom93, prayed for the victims, saying: “May Almighty God keep, guide and protect the innocent citizens of this country, a country where kidnapping has business.”
ALABA, @thisisAlaba, also appealed for the release of the corps members, writing: “We all know this is not the Fulani. We all know the people responsible for this. Tell your incoming X president to please help us beg your shameless people to release our corps members.”
Eyin Enibi, ENJR Aiye, @Mount_Ay69, wrote: “Igbo people in Imo State…call your brothers oooo…. leave our children…free dem ooo…before we send Sunday Igboho to una land…let the sleeping dog lie ooo.”
Chinonso JohnPaul, @nollywhite_Utd, questioned the earlier report of a rescue, asking: “But no the same corpers dem talk say dem done rescue 10 ppl already?”
Engr Mekus, @TheoEmeka2, blamed the Federal Government, writing: “Tinubu and APC must leave Naija. E done too much.”
Nic, @MrNic_Fin, expressed frustration over the security situation, saying: “No one is safe in this country. Like 20 persons were kidnapped over 2days without a rescue. And they still place calls asking for ransom without a trace.”
NAStee, @Awesome_teawhy, condemned the alleged torture, writing: “It’s bad enough that they kidnapped them; now subjecting them to torture is what I don’t understand.”
Dr CALEB, @9ja_DrCaleb, described the situation as a major setback for the NYSC scheme, writing: “NYSC don cast. Kidnap is the final straw. Dey your dey people. 10M……ransom, money dey won’t have as savings so quick. Na wa for insecurity in Nigeria oo. APC data boys, you need to work overtime.”
