Gunmen have abducted 10 travellers at Ijebu Awa, a community located along the boundary between Ogun and Oyo states, and are demanding N25 million for their release.
Among those kidnapped is a 24-year-old former National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Olusoji Adedapo, who had just completed his national service in Edo State and was travelling to Ibadan when the incident occurred.
The abduction reportedly happened on Tuesday evening after the travellers were attacked along the route. Although initial reports suggested that some of the victims were serving corps members, the police clarified that none of those kidnapped was currently undergoing the NYSC programme.
Adedapo’s cousin, Adeseye Timilehin, disclosed that the family was thrown into confusion after learning about the incident. He said the kidnappers had given them a 24-hour deadline to produce the ransom.
According to Timilehin, Adedapo left Benin City, Edo State, on Tuesday morning alongside a friend, Tunde, who was also his colleague during the NYSC programme.
He explained that Adedapo had been communicating with members of the family throughout the journey and even sent videos showing the traffic situation along the road.
The family became worried when communication suddenly stopped. They later received information about the attack from Tunde, who reportedly escaped from the gunmen.
Timilehin said the travellers encountered heavy traffic earlier in their journey and did not leave the area until around 3pm. Some passengers reportedly advised the driver to return to Benin City and continue the journey the following morning because of the late hour, but the driver insisted on proceeding.
The vehicle reportedly reached the Ijebu area at about 7pm when the gunmen appeared and attacked the occupants.
The survivor reportedly told the family that the driver attempted to escape by steering the vehicle into the bush after spotting the armed men. However, the attackers surrounded them, forcing the passengers to run in different directions.
While Tunde managed to hide in the bush and escape, the other passengers were reportedly captured by the gunmen.
Timilehin said Tunde later contacted the family and explained what happened. Police officers subsequently arrived at the scene, rescued him and took him to a police station, where he spent the night.
He added that security operatives and local vigilantes immediately began searching the surrounding forest for the missing passengers, but the initial operation did not produce any positive result.
On Wednesday morning, Adedapo’s mother, aunt and a family friend travelled from Ibadan to Awa-Ijebu to seek information about the victims at the police station.
The family was reportedly informed that security operatives were already searching the forest. However, they were advised to return home and wait for further information from the kidnappers. Adedapo’s belongings were also handed over to his relatives.
While returning to the motor park, the family received their first telephone call from the abductors, who demanded N20 million for the release of the victims.During the conversation, Adedapo’s mother reportedly broke down in tears and appealed to the kidnappers to reduce the amount, explaining that the family could not afford such a huge sum.
The abductors also allowed the family to speak briefly with Adedapo, giving them confirmation that he was still alive.
However, the situation became more difficult when the kidnappers contacted the family again shortly after they returned to Ibadan and increased the ransom demand from N20 million to N25 million.
The gunmen reportedly switched off the telephone number after communicating their new demand, leaving the family without further information until Thursday morning.
Timilehin said the kidnappers later contacted Adedapo’s mother and demanded to know whether the family had raised the money. They reportedly warned that failure to provide the ransom would mean the family had abandoned their son to them.
The abductors subsequently allowed Adedapo to speak with his mother again. During the conversation, he appealed to her to contact his elder brother and ask him to seek financial assistance from friends and other well-wishers.
Adedapo also reportedly called Timilehin directly, pleading with him to mobilise support to secure his freedom.
Timilehin said he informed his cousin that the family was making efforts to raise the money but had not been able to gather enough.
He disclosed that only N700,000 had been raised at the time of their conversation, far below the N25 million demanded by the kidnappers.
The family said Adedapo’s voice was shaking during the telephone conversation as he repeatedly appealed for help.
Another call reportedly came from Adedapo later on Thursday evening, with the abductors again asking how much the family had been able to raise. Timilehin said he informed him that no additional money had been secured, after which the call ended.
The kidnappers also reportedly contacted Adedapo’s mother to make further enquiries about the ransom.
The repeated calls have left the family deeply worried as they struggle to raise the money and secure the freedom of the 10 abducted travellers.
Timilehin described Adedapo as a close family member, explaining that they shared a strong relationship and regarded each other as brothers.
He said relatives were making efforts to gather financial assistance from friends, family members and other Nigerians, but the amount available remained far below the kidnappers’ demand.
The family has appealed for urgent assistance and intervention to ensure the safe release of Adedapo and the other victims.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command has confirmed that an investigation into the abduction is ongoing.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaeyi Ogunnaike, said the command was working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and secure the release of those abducted.