Parents of prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) abducted while travelling from Ibadan to their orientation camps in southeastern Nigeria have appealed to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, to intervene and help secure the safe release of their children.

The latest development has heightened concerns over the safety of the young graduates, as security agencies reportedly located the forest hideout where the abducted victims are being held.

The prospective corps members were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, towards their respective NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen attacked two buses around Umunoha, along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State on October 1.

According to reports, several people were rescued at the scene, while about 20 prospective corps members were initially reported to have remained in captivity. Some reports have since referred to the number as 19, reflecting differing accounts as authorities and families continue to establish the exact number of victims.

Parents Visit Olubadan

In response to the worsening situation, parents of the abducted graduates travelled to the residence of Oba Rashidi Ladoja in Bodija, Ibadan, where they appealed to the traditional ruler to use his influence and contacts to assist in securing their children’s release.

The parents expressed deep concern about the condition of the victims, who had already spent days in captivity.

Oba Ladoja received the delegation alongside the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Oyebola Adeyeri III.

The Olubadan assured the families that efforts were being made by the government to address the situation and secure the release of the abducted graduates.

Kidnappers Demand Ransom

The families had earlier disclosed that the kidnappers demanded a ransom of ₦50 million per victim, which would have amounted to about ₦1 billion for 20 victims.

The abductors reportedly gave the families a 24-hour ultimatum to raise the money.

However, a new report published Monday morning says the kidnappers have subsequently reduced their demand to ₦5 million per victim, bringing the reported total demand to ₦100 million for 20 victims.

The development has not ended the families’ fears. Relatives reportedly said the abducted graduates were being physically assaulted by their captors, increasing pressure on authorities to secure their safe release.

Security Agencies Locate Suspected Hideout

The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, disclosed that security agencies had located the forest area where the victims were allegedly being held.

However, authorities reportedly faced a serious obstacle: intelligence indicated that the area had allegedly been rigged with improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

This has made a direct assault on the hideout particularly dangerous because any poorly coordinated operation could put both the abducted graduates and the rescuers at risk.

Security agencies are therefore expected to carefully coordinate intelligence, surveillance and rescue operations while attempting to prevent the kidnappers from moving the victims to another location.

Calls for Urgent Government Action

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the Federal Government to deploy all available intelligence and security resources to rescue the abducted graduates.

The organisation urged the police, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services and Nigerian Air Force to coordinate their efforts and deploy personnel with expertise in hostage rescue, intelligence gathering, explosive ordnance disposal and jungle operations.

HURIWA also warned against a reckless assault on the suspected hideout, stressing that the priority should be the safe recovery of the victims.

The organisation called for sustained aerial surveillance, the securing of escape routes and the deployment of bomb-disposal specialists to deal with any explosive threats.

Oyo Government Monitoring Situation

The Oyo State Government has also said it is maintaining contact with the Imo State Government and security agencies as efforts continue to secure the release of the abducted graduates.

The incident has generated anxiety in Ibadan because the victims were travelling from the city to begin their national service when they were attacked.

The case has also renewed concerns about the safety of young Nigerians travelling to NYSC orientation camps, particularly those travelling long distances across states affected by insecurity.

For the families, however, the immediate priority remains clear: the safe return of their children.

As security agencies continue efforts to reach the suspected hideout, the families are calling for urgent action and reliable information about the condition and whereabouts of the abducted prospective corps members.