NYSC Members Kidnapped in Imo State, Ransom Set at N1bn

On Thursday, twenty prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members were kidnapped along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Imo State. The kidnappers have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the victims' parents, demanding N50 million for each victim, totaling N1 billion.

The Imo State Police Command has confirmed that they have identified the location of the victims but delayed action due to concerns about improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the area. The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu, has dispatched a Deputy Inspector General of Police and several commissioners of police to lead a search-and-rescue operation.

Parents of the victims, including Alhaja Akande and Oyebola Akande, reported receiving threats from the kidnappers via the victims' mobile phones. They appealed for help from the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, who assured them that efforts were underway to rescue the victims unharmed.

The state Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, has been in contact with his counterpart in Imo State regarding the situation.