Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Gunmen have abducted 10 passengers travelling along the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Road in Ogun State, demanding N25 million for their release after intercepting their commercial bus and taking them into a nearby forest.
The victims include Dapo, a recently discharged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member who completed his mandatory service in Edo State last week. Another corps member travelling with the group managed to escape during the attack.
A sister to one of the abducted passengers, identified as Abigael, confirmed the incident to journalists, appealing for urgent intervention to secure the victims’ release.
She explained that the family lost contact with Dapo while he was travelling from Edo State to Ibadan. He had been providing regular updates about his journey, including sending videos showing traffic congestion shortly before the communication stopped.
According to her, the family learnt about the abduction at about 7pm on Tuesday after a fellow corps member who escaped from the attackers contacted one of her brothers.
“On Tuesday, my brother was on his way back from Edo; he was posted to Edo State for NYSC. He did his POP last week. So he was on his way back to Ibadan. He was still giving us updates about his journey, and at some point, he posted that there was traffic. I have the videos on my phone. That was the last time we heard from him,” she said.
Abigael said the escaped passenger informed the family that armed men had intercepted their commercial vehicle shortly after it passed through Ijebu-Ode, abducting Dapo and nine other passengers.
She added that the gunmen threatened to kill or injure the passengers if they refused to cooperate during the attack.
The family subsequently reported the incident at the Ijebu-Ode Police Station. However, the kidnappers later contacted them using Dapo’s phone to demand a ransom.
Abigael disclosed that the abductors initially requested N20 million but subsequently increased the amount to N25 million. They also gave the family a 24-hour deadline to pay the ransom.
The family is appealing for urgent assistance to secure the release of the 10 passengers, including the recently discharged corps member, as efforts continue to establish their whereabouts and ensure their safe return.
