Parents Accuse Transport Firm of Withholding Information on Abducted NYSC Members

Parents of 19 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted by gunmen in Imo State have accused the transport company that conveyed their children from Ibadan of withholding crucial passenger information after the incident, alleging that the firm failed to provide details that could have helped the distraught families establish contact with other victims’ relatives.

The parents, who spoke amid growing anguish over the fate of the abducted graduates, said they visited Eduak King Transport Company at Samonda, Ibadan, in search of passenger records and other information that could assist their efforts to trace their children and connect with families facing a similar ordeal.

They alleged, however, that the company declined to release the next of kin details of passengers aboard the ill-fated vehicle despite the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the incident.

The development has heightened concerns among the affected families, who are seeking answers over the circumstances surrounding the journey, the company’s response to the abduction and the information available to the transport operator about the passengers.

One of the affected mothers, Mrs Iyabo Akande, whose daughter, Kehinde Marufat Akande, was among those abducted, appealed to the Inspector General of Police and the government to investigate the transport company and establish whether any individual or institution failed in its responsibilities.

“Please, our government, please, the Inspector General of Police, the transport company Eduak King located at Samonda, please help us investigate them and put fear into them. Call them to account,” she said.

Another parent, Engr. Olawale Olaleye, whose daughter was also among the victims, expressed dismay that the transport company appeared to have continued its operations despite the abduction and the distress engulfing the affected families.

Olaleye said the parents were particularly startled when they visited the company’s premises to seek information and assistance and reportedly found another vehicle being loaded for departure.

A visit to the transport company’s premises found other operators conducting their normal activities, while the premises of Eduak King were locked and no official was available to respond to the allegations or address the concerns raised by the families.

The allegations have emerged against the backdrop of heightened anxiety over the reported abduction of 19 prospective corps members travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to the NYSC permanent orientation camp in Abia State.

The graduates had boarded a bus operated by Eduak King Transport Company at its Samonda park as they embarked on the journey to commence the mandatory one year national service after completing their university education.

According to accounts given by the affected families, the journey included an overnight stop around Onitsha, Anambra State, after which the bus reportedly resumed its movement at about 4:00 am.

The vehicle was allegedly attacked around the Owerri axis of Imo State at about 7:00 am, with 19 prospective corps members reportedly taken into the bush, while some other passengers escaped or were rescued.

Among those reportedly abducted were graduates of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, including a set of twins.

Olaleye appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene urgently, particularly following reports that the abductors had demanded N50 million as ransom.

“The vehicle took off on Friday. They slept over around Onitsha. After taking off again around 4:00 am, after reaching Owerri in Imo State, they were kidnapped. That was where we heard information about her last,” he said.

Lamenting the reported ransom demand, Olaleye said, “This morning, they are already demanding N50 million! N50 million for just one head! We don’t have mouth to talk too much, but please come to our rescue. Governor Seyi Makinde, President Tinubu, please come to our rescue. Since Thursday, I have not eaten, I can’t even sleep.”

Mrs Rebecca Adewale, whose 26 year old son, Paul Iyanuoluwa Adewale, was among the abducted graduates, said the incident had plunged her family into severe emotional distress.

She said the family had made significant sacrifices to educate their son and was now confronted with the additional burden of a reported ransom demand, appealing to the authorities to intensify efforts to secure his release.

Adewale also questioned the rationale behind deploying young graduates to distant parts of the country for compulsory national service, particularly amid the security risks associated with interstate transportation.

Her husband, Omotosho Emmanuel Adewale, said the family became aware of Paul’s ordeal after repeated telephone calls to him went unanswered.

He said the family eventually received a brief call from their son, who appeared to be speaking under the supervision of his captors and disclosed the ransom demand before the communication was abruptly cut off.

He appealed to the government to deploy every available resource towards securing the safe return of Paul and the other abducted graduates.

Akande, whose daughter was travelling with her twin sister, said the family had spoken with them late at night during the overnight stop before receiving news of the attack the following morning.

She said the abductors subsequently contacted her and demanded N50 million for her daughter’s release before making additional financial demands.

According to Akande, the family transferred N100,000 after the abductors demanded money, hoping the payment would help protect the captives from harm.

She added that the abductors later demanded money to provide food for the hostages, prompting some affected families to contribute funds in the hope of improving the conditions of those being held.

Akande, however, said the families had no means of raising the reported N50 million ransom and appealed to the government to intervene.

Another parent, Deaconess Kemi Makinde, a trader, recalled accompanying her child to the Samonda motor park early in the morning before the journey to the NYSC orientation camp.

Mr Bafunsho Olayiwola, a psychiatric healthcare personnel at the State Hospital, Ring Road, Ibadan, also appealed to the government and Nigerians to intervene in the crisis and help secure the release of the abducted graduates.

Meanwhile, the Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security, CP Sunday Odukoya (retd.), has assured the affected families that the Oyo State Government is working with relevant security agencies to secure the release of the abducted prospective corps members.

Odukoya, who addressed the parents at the state secretariat, said the government was closely monitoring developments and had established communication with relevant authorities in Imo and Abia states, as well as military and federal intelligence agencies.

He assured the parents that security agencies were intensifying efforts to locate the abducted youths and secure their safe return.

Odukoya also urged the families to remain calm and avoid any action that could compromise the ongoing rescue operation.

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