Kidnappers allegedly torment 20 abducted corps members, reduce ransom demand from N50m to N5m per head

The 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members Abducted by gunmen in Imo State have allegedly been subjected to physical assault by their captors, who reportedly reduced the ransom demand from N50 million to N5 million per victim.

The graduates were abducted on Thursday while travelling from Ibadan to their NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

They were reportedly attacked along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State, while travelling in two buses.

A relative of one of the victims, Alhaja Alimot Akande, said the abduct0rs initially demanded N50 million for each victim but had now reduced the rans0m to N5 million.

Akande also alleged that the abduct0rs had started beating the victims, including the women.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government said it was working with the Imo State Government and security agencies to secure the victims’ release.

Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said the government was drawing on its experience from the recent Oriire abduction to assist efforts to secure the victims’ release.