Gunmen have reportedly given the families of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members a 24-hour ultimatum to pay ransom for their release.
The prospective corps members were abducted on their way to orientation camps in Abia State after gunmen attacked two buses travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to the South-East and South-South.
According to the affected parents, the kidnappers are demanding N50 million for each victim, amounting to N1 billion for the 20 abducted victims. The parents disclosed this during a visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at his Bodija residence on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
They appealed to the Olubadan and the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji, to intervene.
How It Happened – Precise Post Details
Additional information from Precise Post.ng reveals the full timeline:
The buses belong to Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited and were carrying prospective corps members to orientation camps in Uyo, Akwa Ibom and Bende, Abia State.
The buses left Bodija/Samonda Park in Ibadan on Wednesday, September 30, but were delayed by heavy traffic around Benin, Edo State. They eventually arrived Onitsha, Anambra State, late that night and had to sleep over at Oba.
They resumed the journey at about 5 a.m. on Thursday, October 1 – Independence Day. Barely after entering Imo State, along the Owerri-Onitsha Road at Umunoha in Mbaitoli LGA, gunmen emerged from the bush, blocked both vehicles and dragged the passengers into the forest.
The company’s MD, Isiah Akpan, said 19 passengers – all corps members – were taken. While parents say 20, police records show 19 abducted. Two buses were recovered with passengers’ belongings scattered inside.
The drivers managed to escape and alerted security at a nearby checkpoint.
Parents Seek Urgent Intervention
The parents said the gunmen contacted them using the mobile phone lines of the abducted prospective corps members.
Alhaja Alimot Akande and Oyebola Michael Akande who spoke on behalf of the parents said: “They have been calling us since yesterday 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. There is no way we can raise such amount at this period. Baba, kindly assist us. Don’t let them kill our children.”
Ladoja and Police Assure Rescue
Olubadan Ladoja assured the parents: “I want to assure that your children would be rescued unharmed. We will relate whatever information we gather to you. The Police are working round the clock to secure their rescue.”
Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, said he had contacted his counterpart in Imo State: “We have been talking since the day of the incident, and he assured me that the victims would be rescued unhurt.”
Imo Police Command confirmed the attack occurred at about 6:30 a.m. on October 1. Police said 10 victims have been rescued so far.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has deployed DIG Shehu Umar Nadada to Imo to lead the search-and-rescue. Police also deployed drones that have located the kidnappers’ camp, but operation was stalled after IEDs were discovered around the camp.
