Crime

Bandits Demand N15 Million Ransom for Five Abducted Ondo Corps Members

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 22nd, 2024.

Bandits Demand N15 Million Ransom for Five Abducted Ondo Corps Members

The abductors of five National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Ifon town, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, have threatened to kill the hostages if a ransom of N15 million is not paid.

The corps members were kidnapped last weekend on the Ifon-Owo highway. During the attack, gunmen opened fire on their commercial vehicle, killing the driver and a female passenger.

Reports indicate that the corps members were returning from Enugu State, where they had completed their mandatory NYSC orientation camp. The attack involved approximately 15 suspected kidnappers.

The kidnappers contacted the families of the victims over the weekend, initially demanding a ransom of N30 million per victim. However, the ransom was later reduced. Lawal Happiness, the brother of one of the victims, provided details of the negotiations.

“My name is Lawal Happiness, a brother to Adewole Paul Oluwaseun, a corps member kidnapped on her way back from the Enugu camp to Akure,” he said. “She, along with four other corps members – Oluwadara Feranmi, Andrew Patience, Oribamise Taiwo, and Ajayi Lekan – had just finished their NYSC orientation programme and were returning home to collect their belongings for proper resumption.”

According to Lawal, the journey began on July 18, 2024, when the group left Enugu State at 9 a.m. They encountered minor delays in Onitsha but continued their journey, reaching Ifon by 10:15 p.m. Communication was lost after that point.

“On the morning of July 19, we received a call from the kidnappers demanding N30 million per head,” Lawal said. “We reported the incident to various security agencies, but there has been no positive outcome.”

By the evening of July 19, the ransom demand was reduced to N3 million per head. Negotiations continued, and by July 20, the kidnappers agreed to a reduced ransom of N1 million per head. However, on July 21, the demand was raised again to N3 million per head, with a deadline of 9 p.m. for payment, after which the kidnappers threatened to kill the hostages and disclose the location of their bodies.

The families of the victims are pleading for assistance and urging authorities to take swift action to ensure the safe return of the corps members.