Abductors place N25m ransom
The families of a recently discharged Corps member has appealed to the Federal Government and security operatives to help rescue their son, Dapo who was abducted alongside either others who were abducted on the Ijebu-Ode-Ibadan road.
The incident, according to the sister, Abigeal, occurred on Tuesday, shortly after the victims left Ijebu -Ode enroute Ibadan.
According to her, although the matter has been reported at the Ijebu-Ode Police station, the kidnappers have reached out to the family initially requesting for a ransom of N20million buy later raised it to N25million with a deadline of 24hours to make the payment.
Noting that the last thing they heard from Dapo before the incident was when he sent a video of traffic situation on the road, but was unreachable shortly after.
She noted that, another Corper who escaped from being abducted was the one who alerted the relatives to the incident.
Abigeal said, “On Tuesday, my brother was on his way back from Edo, he was posted to Edo State for NYSC. He did his POP last week. So he was on his way back to Ibadan. So, he was still giving us updates about his journey, so at some point, he posted that there was traffic. I have the videos on my phone, posted there was traffic. So, that was the last time we heard from him.
“Not until around past 7:00 in the night, one of the co-members escaped. I don’t know how he escaped, I spoke to that guy too yesterday. He was the one who told another brother of mine that their bus was attacked, and they have been kidnapped, my brother and nine other people.
“He was the one that gave us that information that immediately, police, and vigilante entered the bush that Tuesday when it happened, that they are yet to be back.
“So yesterday (Wednesday), we went to the police station, Ijebu Ode police station, we met with the police, they said we should calm down, that their people are not yet back. So, I think it wasn’t up to one hour, those people came back without any news.
“So, the police told us that we should wait for their (kidnappers) call. So, on our way back to the park yesterday, we got a call, they (kidnappers) used his (my brother’s) phone to call us. We ran back to the police station.
“We just heard his voice, he said, hello mummy. We said, what is happening? They collected the phones from him, they (kidnappers) said they are collecting N20 million. We were still trying to beg them, they ended the call. The phone was switched off again not until around 6:59PM when they called us again, requesting for N25 million.
“We were still even begging, they said, shebi na cry you wan cry, they cry, they go, now they ended the call, they said the deadline is today (Thursday).
“Some of the victims that they kidnapped are all Corps members, I saw some of their posts too on Twitter, their families are also trying to raise funds, I have all of those information.
“The bus has been recovered and their luggages, it is at the police station already. The police gave us his luggage yesterday, and we came home with his bags, but my brothers and other nine Corps members are still there.
“But from the information that guy gave us, the one that escaped, he said the driver directly drove inside the bush and before they could know anything, they were already surrounded with armed Fulanis.
“I was trying to relate that, let’s say there is even traffic, the driver is trying to pass short cuts, and they said they were shouting that he should reverse, he did not answer because my brother and that guy that escaped, they are the only guys, others are female.
“Please, my brother and other Corps members are still in the bush and those people called us yesterday and we have filled a report at Ijebu-Ode Police station.
She however appealed to the government and security operatives to help secure the rescue of the abductors.
“Please, we are calling on the government, the security operatives, everybody. To please help us because they have been in the bush since Tuesday. They already spent two nights with them (kidnappers) and we don’t even have the N25 million to raise.
“So, there’s possibly another night. They’ll be spending another night with them again. Please, we are asking that the government help us. We need our brother back, we need other victims back.
“We heard the denial of them, but my brother is the only guy in their midst, please. We need the government, we need the security operatives. Please, we need them to rescue them, please. We heard his voice, he was crying yesterday. We need everybody, please.”
Recounting how the incident occurred, the Corper who escaped, in a voice note which was shared with The Nation said when the traffic was observed, the driver of the bus suddenly turned and faced the bush path.
He noted that, everybody in the bus started shouting as they were unsure of the route the driver was taking, but that he refused to heed any call and headed further into the forest.
He said, as he drove deeper into the bush, there was sudden sporadic gunshot as he arrived the den of the kidnappers.
He said, “As we were travelling, shortly after passing through Ijebu, we faced, Ibadan, it was around 7PM, we just saw that, our driver turned facing into the bush,
Before we knew waht was happening, we saw Fulani people came, they attacked us, they were shooting guns repeatedly, right there, they shot someone, but me, I just hid inside. All I knew was just that I met myself in the bush after they had taken others away. Some of the abducted dropped left their phones in the bus. It was a very tough time.
“Not long after it happened, the Poland some vigilantes entered into the forest too, but there are nine Corps members and the driver in the bus, making ten people.”
