Security operatives have located the camp where 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State are believed to be held, but the rescue operation has been complicated by reports that the area has been planted with improvised explosive devices.
The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, disclosed this while providing an update on efforts to rescue the victims, who were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom when gunmen attacked their buses in the Umunoha area of Imo State on Thursday.
Bosso said police operatives, supported by drone surveillance, had tracked the suspected abductors to a location deep inside the bush.
According to him, however, security personnel have been unable to immediately enter the area because intelligence indicated that the camp had been mined with explosives.
The commissioner said the drone surveillance provided security agencies with a clearer picture of the suspected kidnappers’ location, but the presence of improvised explosive devices had made a direct approach dangerous.
He said security agencies were deploying additional operational equipment, including bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers, as part of efforts to gain access to the location and rescue the victims safely.
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Umar Nadada, who was deployed to Imo State by Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu to coordinate the operation, assured the victims’ families that security agencies were doing everything possible to secure their safe release.
Nadada appealed to the relatives to cooperate with the security agencies, acknowledging the anxiety and emotional distress caused by the abduction.
He said the Inspector-General of Police had also directed the deployment of additional tactical teams and operational assets to reinforce personnel already involved in the rescue effort.
Meanwhile, the families of the abducted prospective corps members have appealed to the Federal and Oyo State governments to intervene following reported ransom demands.
Some relatives told Channels Television that they had received demands of ₦50 million for each victim, heightening concerns over the safety of their loved ones.
Olawale Olaleke, whose son was among those travelling to Abia State, said the young man was abducted before reaching his destination.
Another parent, Olawale Olalere, appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene urgently.
According to him, the victims had travelled from Samonda and spent the night in Onitsha before continuing their journey the following morning. They were reportedly abducted after reaching the Owerri axis.
Another parent, Mrs Oladosu, said her daughter, Greatness, was travelling to Uyo when she was abducted.
She alleged that the kidnappers briefly contacted the family through her daughter’s phone and allowed them to see some of the victims during a video call.
According to her, the victims were seen sitting on the ground in a bush while crying.
“Where will petty traders get N50 million? They are just going to serve Nigeria; why this punishment?” she asked.
Another victim’s mother, Alimotu Akanke, said her son, Akande Farouq, who was posted to Abia State, managed to send a brief message to the family’s WhatsApp group before communication was lost.
Farouq reportedly sent the word “Kidnappers!” before his phone became unreachable.
Friends and relatives of the abducted graduates have also taken to social media to seek public support and draw attention to the situation.
There is, however, some uncertainty over the exact number of people abducted.
A manifest from the two buses reportedly contained 30 passengers, with 15 listed on each bus, while security authorities have yet to officially release the transport company’s manifest or clarify whether any passengers have been rescued.
The Oyo State Government on it’s part condemned the abduction and assured the victims’ families that efforts were underway to secure their release.
The assurance was given when relatives of the abducted prospective corps members visited the Oyo State Government Secretariat to protest the incident and seek urgent intervention.
The Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security, Sunday Odukoya, who received the group, appealed for calm and said the governor was working with relevant stakeholders to secure the safe release of the victims.
Meanwhile, police authorities said investigations into the incident had commenced but declined to identify the suspected perpetrators, describing them as unknown gunmen.
