By Adeyinka Adeniran
The rescued prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members have arrived in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
It was gathered that they arrived the city around 7PM and taken to the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters, where they are currently undergoing debriefing.
As at the time of this report, sources said the area which is heavily guided by security operatives has been cordoned as visitors or anybody have been restricted from having access.
It was gathered that they arrived the city around 7PM and taken to the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters, where they are currently undergoing debriefing.
As at the time of this report, sources said the area which is heavily guided by security operatives has been cordoned as visitors or anybody have been restricted from having access.
It was gathered, as of the time of filing this report, that only representatives of the victims’ parents were allowed access to the DSS premises, while other relatives and sympathisers remained outside the facility.
The Nation reports that 20 of the 30 prospective corps members travelling in two buses from Oyo State to orientation camps in Abia State were abducted by gunmen along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.
The remaining 10 prospective corps members escaped into the bush during the attack and subsequently made their way to safety.
The 20 abducted victims regained their freedom seven days after they were kidnapped.
The abductors had initially demanded a ransom of N50 million for each victim, bringing the total demand to N1 billion, before reportedly reducing it to N5 million per person, amounting to N100 million for the 20 victims.
The development had earlier triggered concern among the victims’ parents, who on Saturday besieged the private residence of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, in Ibadan, seeking intervention over the continued captivity of their children.
The parents were joined by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri, in the efforts to secure the release of the abducted prospective corps members.
Shortly after the victims regained their freedom, the Olubadan announced their release, saying the information was confirmed to him by the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, during a telephone conversation.
“The kidnapped graduates have been released. The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, confirmed this in a telephone conversation at about 5.00pm,” Ladoja stated in a statement issued by his media aide, Adeola Oloko, in Ibadan.
As of the time of this report, it remains unclear what the next line of action.
An unconfirmed source said the victims may be taken to the Oyo stage governor, on Friday, before being allowed to reunite with their families.
Eeffort to get the reaction from the state government was futile as at the time of this report.
An unconfirmed source said the victims may be taken to the Oyo stage governor, on Friday, before being allowed to reunite with their families.
Eeffort to get the reaction from the state government was futile as at the time of this report.
