Abductors of 20 NYSC members reduce ransom to N100m 

Abductors of 20 NYSC members reduce ransom to N100m

The 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted by gunmen in Imo State are allegedly been beaten by their captors, as the kidnappers reduced their ransom demand to N5 million per victim.

The development came as the deadline reportedly given by the abductors approached, heightening anxiety among the victims’ families.

One affected relative, Alhaja Alimot Akande, whose 25-year-old sister, Kehinde Akande, is among the abducted graduates, was reported as saying that the victims had allegedly been beaten them since Saturday.

She described the situation as “horrible, scary and overwhelming,” while appealing to the government to intensify efforts to secure their release.

Akande said the kidnappers reduced their initial demand from N50 million per victim to N5 million each.

“They are still demanding N5 million. They have come down to N5 million each,” she said.

She said she could not confirm how much had been raised, explaining that she was not privy to arrangements between the abductors and other families.

According to Akande, her sister told her the abductors had started beating the victims.

‘Sir, we appeal to the government to please assist us in getting them rescued out of that place. When I spoke to my sister, they started beating them since yesterday,’ she said.

Asked whether the female victims were also being assaulted, she said: “They are not sparing anybody. They are beating all of them.”

Akande also said one of the abducted corps members had been allowed to communicate with his father, alleging that the kidnappers monitored the calls to assess the family’s ability to raise the ransom.

She added that the families had been relying on assurances from the police while efforts continued to raise the ransom.

‘The police are telling us to still be buying time. We are still looking for the money. Depending, they will see them rescued,’ she said.