NYSC Kidnappers Reduce Ransom From ₦1 Billion 

Kidnappers holding 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State have reduced their ransom demand from ₦1 billion to ₦100 million.

The victims, who were travelling to their orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states, were abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road on Thursday.

According to Punch, the kidnappers initially demanded ₦50 million for each of the 20 graduates, but have now reduced the amount to ₦5 million per person.

The prospective corps members were travelling from Ibadan when gunmen attacked two buses around Umunoha on the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State.

Parents of the victims said the abductors had continued to keep the graduates in captivity and were allegedly beating them.

One of the affected parents, Alhaja Alimot Akande, said the situation had caused serious fear among the families, adding that the assault on the victims had made the situation more disturbing.

She said the families were still trying to raise the money demanded by the kidnappers and were relying on information from security agencies concerning efforts to rescue their children.

“The kidnappers had reduced their demand from the earlier ₦50m per victim to ₦5 each,” she said.

“They are still demanding ₦5. They have come down to ₦5m each.”