Gunmen have abducted 10 passengers travelling along the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Road in Ogun State, demanding a ₦25 million ransom for their release.
The victims, including a recently discharged member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), were reportedly kidnapped on Tuesday evening, after armed men attacked their commercial bus and took them into a nearby forest.
According to a report by The Guardian, one of the two corps members travelling in the vehicle escaped, while the other was among those taken hostage.
The family of one of the victims, identified as Dapo, confirmed the incident, saying he was returning to Ibadan from Edo State after completing his NYSC programme the previous week.
His sister, Abigael, said her brother had been updating the family about his journey and even sent a video showing traffic congestion shortly before communication with him was lost.
She explained that the family learnt about the abduction around 7pm on Tuesday after another corps member who escaped from the attack contacted them.
Kidnappers Increase Ransom Demand to ₦25m
Abigael disclosed that the abductors later contacted the family using Dapo’s phone, initially demanding ₦20 million for his release.
However, the kidnappers reportedly increased the ransom to ₦25 million after the family pleaded for more time to raise the money.
She said the abductors gave the family a 24-hour deadline to pay the ransom.
According to her, the family visited the Ijebu-Ode Police Station on Wednesday and was informed that security operatives had yet to return from their search operation.
Although the abandoned commercial bus and passengers’ belongings were recovered and taken to the police station, the victims remained in captivity.
Escaped Corps Member Recounts Attack
The corps member who escaped reportedly narrated the incident in a voice note shared with journalists.
He alleged that the driver suddenly diverted from the main road into a bush path after encountering traffic.
According to him, passengers became suspicious and repeatedly asked the driver to turn back, but he continued driving towards the forest.
He said armed men subsequently opened fire as the vehicle approached their hideout.
The survivor alleged that the attackers, whom he suspected to be herders, shot at least one person during the assault.
He said he managed to escape by hiding in the bush while the other passengers were taken away.
Police officers and local vigilantes reportedly entered the forest in search of the abducted passengers.
Family Appeals for Government Intervention
Abigael appealed to the government and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the victims, expressing concern over their safety and the family’s inability to raise the ransom.
She said the victims had already spent two nights in captivity as of the family’s appeal.
“Please, we are calling on the government and the security operatives to help us because they have been in the bush since Tuesday. They have already spent two nights with them, and we don’t even have the N25 million to raise.
“We need our brother back; we need the other victims back,” she said.
A senior police source in the Ogun State Police Command confirmed the abduction along the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Road but did not provide further details about the circumstances or ongoing rescue efforts.
The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of motorists and passengers travelling along major highways in Nigeria, particularly routes surrounded by forests and isolated communities.
