Kidnappers holding 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members have reduced their ransom demand from ₦50 million to ₦5 million per victim.
The reduction brings the total ransom demanded by the abductors from ₦1 billion to ₦100 million after families reportedly struggled to meet the initial demand.
The victims, who were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their respective NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states, were abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.
Notably, the graduates were reportedly travelling in two commercial buses when gunmen ambushed the vehicles and took them into the surrounding area.
Subsequently, relatives of the victims expressed concern over their condition, alleging that the abductors had physically assaulted some of the captives, including female victims, to pressure their families into paying the ransom.
The families also alleged that the kidnappers have forced the victims to make monitored telephone calls pleading with their relatives to raise the money demanded for their release.
The abductors initially issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the payment of the ₦1 billion ransom. However, the demand was later reduced after families reportedly informed them that they could not raise such a large amount within the stipulated period.
However, with the revised demand of ₦5 million per victim, the total amount now stands at ₦100 million.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government said it is working with the Imo State Government and security agencies to secure the safe release of the abducted prospective corps members.
Security personnel are also reportedly monitoring the situation and working to identify and intercept the gang responsible for the abduction.
By Musekir Faisat Omolara
