The abductors of Oyo State 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members have given the grieving parents 24 hours ultimatum to effect the payment of the N1billion, the victims’ parents announced, on Saturday.
The affected parents, while addressing Olubadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, the state Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri, during their visit to his Bodija private residence of Olubadan, sought the timely intervention of the Olubadan of Ibadanland and the state commissionet of Police.
They submitted that the gunmen contacted them with the mobile lines of the kidnapped prospective corps members.
Speaking on behalf of other grieving parents, Alhaja Akande and Oyebola Akande appealed to the both Oba Ladoja and CP Abimbola Ayodeji to come to their rescue by ensuring timely release of their children.
“They have been calling us since yesterday (Friday) with a demand for N50m ransom each. They are threatening that anything untoward will happen to our children if we fail to heed to their request.
“There is no way we can raise such amount at this period. Baba, kindly assist us. Dont let them kill our children,” the parents explained.
While addressing the parents, the Olubadan assured them that their children would be rescued unharmed.
He said, “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. Don’t worry yourself, Police are up to the task, and nothing would happen to your children.”
Also speaking, the state Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola said he had already contacted his counterpart in Imo State and efforts were in top gear to secure their rescue.
He said, “I had already contacted Imo State CP. We have been talking since the day of incident, and he assured me that the victims would be rescued unhurt.”
It would be recalled that the abductors of 20 graduates travelling from Ibadan, the state capital, on Thursday, for their NYSC orientation camps have demanded N1 billion for their release.
The abductees were asked to pay N50 million each before their release.
The victims were traveling in two buses when kidnappers attacked them on Owerri-Onitsha road in Umunoha, Imo State.
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