Captors allegedly assault 20 abducted NYSC members and lower ransom to N5m each

Twenty prospective National Youth Service Corps members who were kidnapped by gunmen in Imo State have reportedly been physically assaulted by their captors, who have lowered their ransom demand from N50 million to N5 million for each victim. The graduates were taken on Thursday while travelling from Ibadan to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states. They were said to have been attacked along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State, while riding in two buses. A relative of one of the victims, Alhaja Alimot Akande, said the kidnappers first asked for N50 million per victim but have now reduced the amount to N5 million. Akande also alleged that the captors had begun beating the victims, including the women. In the meantime, the Oyo State Government said it was collaborating 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 applying lessons from the recent Oriire abduction to help efforts to free the victims.