Parents of some of the prospective corps members who were abducted in Imo State while travelling from Ibadan to the Orientation Camp in Abia State on Thursday, took the matter to the residence of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, on Saturday, October 3, appealing for his intervention.
The abductors were reported to have demanded the sum of N1 billion as ransom for the release of the victims, which translated to N50 million on each of the 20 prospective corps members. They also gave a 24-hour ultimatum to pay the ransom.
The affected parents, during their visit to the Bodija residence of Oba Ladoja on Saturday, disclosed that the gunmen contacted some of them with the mobile lines of the victims.
The worried parents also said their coming to the monarch’s residence was necessitated by the threat by the gunmen to deal with the victims if the ransom was not paid within the stipulated time.
One of the parents who spoke at the residence of Oba Ladoja urged him to come to their aid by doing everything possible to help secure the release of the victims.
‘They have been calling us since yesterday with a demand for N50 million ransom each. They are threatening that anything untoward will happen to our children if we fail to heed to their request.
‘There is no way we can raise such an amount at this period. Kabiyesi, kindly assist us. Don’t let them kill our children,” the parent, who did not want his name mentioned, said.
While addressing the parents, the Olubadan assured them that their children would be rescued unharmed.
“I want to assure that your children will be rescued unharmed. We will relate whatever information we gather to you. The police are working round the clock to secure their rescue. Don’t worry yourself, the police are up to the task, and nothing would happen to your children,” he said.
Also speaking on the matter, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Olugbenga Abimbola said he had already contacted his counterpart in Imo State and efforts are in top gear to secure their rescue.
