Parents of the 20 abducted prospective National Youth Service Corps members, PCMs, were thrown into profound sadness, yesterday, leading them to appeal to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, to assist in rescuing their children from the kidnappers’ den.

The distraught parents, who visited Ladoja at his private residence in Bodija, Ibadan, along with the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Olugbenga Abimbola, and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri, said the kidnappers threatened to kill the victims if they did not pay the N1 billion ransom within 24 hours.

This came on a day when the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Olatunji Disu, deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the rescue of the PCMs and other abducted passengers.

Last Thursday, gunmen attacked the 20 PCMs, who had travelled from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State, while on their way to NYSC orientation camps in different vehicles.

 Accusation

Some of their parents accused the transport company that conveyed them from Ibadan of allegedly withholding vital passenger information when they approached its office for assistance.

The parents alleged that when they visited Eduak King Transport Company in Samonda, Ibadan, in a desperate search for information that could help them contact other affected families, the company refused to provide the list of next of kin of passengers aboard the ill-fated vehicle.

One of the affected mothers, Mrs Iyabo Akande, whose daughter, Kehinde Akande, was among the abducted graduates, called on the Inspector-General of Police and the government to investigate the transport operator and ensure that those found culpable were held accountable.

She said: “Please, our government and the Inspector-General of Police should help us investigate the transport company, Eduak King, located at Samonda, and put fear into them. Call them to order. “Yesterday morning at their office, we were asking for the next-of-kin list so we could contact other parents, but they refused to present it or assist us. They must be held accountable.”

Another parent, Olawale Olaleye, whose daughter was also among the victims, expressed concern over what he described as the company’s continued transport operations despite the abduction and the distress the incident had caused the affected families.

According to him, the parents were surprised to find the company loading another vehicle when they visited its premises to seek information and assistance.

He said: “We went to Samonda, to Eduak King. Surprisingly, they were already loading another vehicle. People are complaining. The company should be held liable.”

Plea to Olubadan

But speaking at the Olubadan’s residence, yesterday, Alhaja Akande and Oyebola Akande, who spoke on behalf of the families, said the kidnappers had been calling since Friday, demanding N50 million for each victim.

 “They have been calling us since yesterday (Friday) with a demand for N50 million ransom each. They are threatening that anything untoward will happen to our children if we fail to heed their request,” the parents pleaded.

“There is no way we can raise such an amount at this time. Baba, kindly assist us. Don’t let them kill our children.”

They appealed to the Olubadan and the police commissioner to intervene urgently, expressing fears that the lives of their children could be in danger if the abductors carried out their threats.

Responding to the appeal, Oba Ladoja assured the families that concerted efforts were being made by security agencies to rescue the abducted graduates alive and unhurt.

He said: “I want to assure you that your children will be rescued unharmed. We will relay whatever information we gather to you. The police are working round the clock to secure their rescue. Don’t worry yourself; the police are up to the task, and nothing will happen to your children.”

Also speaking, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, disclosed that he had been in constant communication with his counterpart in Imo State since the incident occurred, expressing confidence that the victims would be rescued safely.

“I had already contacted the Imo State CP. We have been talking since the day of the incident, and he assured me that the victims would be rescued unhurt,” he said.

However, the police commissioner did not disclose whether any ransom had been paid by the families or provide specific details of the ongoing rescue operations.

Deployment

Meanwhile, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, in a statement, yesterday, said IGP Disu had deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the rescue operation.

Iniedu said the DIG arrived in Imo State with two Commissioners of Police and conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and the ongoing search-and-rescue efforts.

He said the DIG also reviewed the operational strategies, deployment of personnel and operational assets, and provided further directives to strengthen the coordinated response.

Iniedu added: “The police are working in close coordination with sister security agencies to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted persons and the apprehension of the perpetrators. The DIG Operations, DIG Shehu Umar Nadada, assured members of the public that the Nigeria Police Force is committed to securing the safe rescue of the 20 abducted persons and will sustain the operation until the mission is successfully concluded.

“He urged members of the public and the media to remain calm and vigilant and encouraged anyone with credible information that could assist the operation to promptly contact the police or the nearest security formation. All information received will be treated with strict confidentiality. Further updates will be issued as the operation progresses.”