Parents of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State have appealed to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, for help, saying they cannot raise the N1 billion ransom reportedly demanded by their abductors.

The parents made the appeal when they visited Oba Ladoja at his private residence in Bodija, Ibadan, alongside the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Abimbola, and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri.

According to the families, the kidnappers have been contacting them since Friday and demanding N50 million for each of the 20 abducted corps members. They said the abductors threatened to harm the victims if the ransom was not paid within 24 hours, prompting the parents to seek urgent intervention from traditional leaders and security agencies.

The prospective corps members were reportedly travelling from Ibadan to various NYSC orientation camps when gunmen attacked their vehicles along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State, last Thursday. The victims were among graduates travelling for the mandatory national youth service programme.

Some of the parents also accused the transport company that conveyed the victims, Eduak King Transport Company, of allegedly refusing to provide next-of-kin information when they visited its office in Samonda, Ibadan, to establish contact with other affected families. The allegations remain claims by the parents and have not been independently established.

Responding to the appeal, the Olubadan assured the families that efforts were being made by security agencies to rescue the abducted corps members alive and safely. The Oyo Commissioner of Police also said he had remained in communication with his Imo counterpart since the incident and expressed confidence that the victims would be rescued unharmed.

Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Shehu Umar Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the rescue operation. The police said the DIG had conducted an assessment of the situation and ongoing search efforts, while directing security personnel to sustain the operation until the victims are safely rescued and the perpetrators apprehended.