The Oyo State Government says it is working with the Imo State Government and security agencies. They are cooperating to secure the release of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted in Imo State. The authorities are particularly focused on the abducted Oyo corps members and are coordinating efforts for their rescue.
According to The PUNCH, Oyo State Commissioner for Information Dotun Oyelade disclosed this in a statement. The statement, which references the abducted Oyo corps members, was issued on Sunday in Ibadan.
Governments maintain security contact
Oyelade said the state government was maintaining close government-to-government contact with Imo State while engaging security agencies in both states.
He added that Oyo State was also sharing lessons from previous kidnapping incidents.
“Oyo State is volunteering the templates and experiences it garnered during the Oriire kidnapping incident,” Oyelade said.
He added that the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Oriire abduction was also being used in the discussions. The report was submitted last week by a panel led by Justice Mojeed Owoade.
Graduates abducted on way to NYSC camps
The 20 graduates were travelling from Ibadan to their NYSC orientation camps on Thursday. At that time, gunmen attacked the two buses conveying them along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State. Notably, these were abducted Oyo corps members among others from different states.
The kidnappers reportedly demanded N50 million for each victim, bringing the total ransom demand to N1 billion.
The Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, Isiah Akpan, had earlier confirmed the ransom demand.
Government keeps rescue details confidential
Oyelade said governments could not publicly disclose every step being taken in sensitive security situations. This is because doing so could compromise ongoing operations related to the abducted Oyo corps members.
He said attention should also be placed on the Federal Government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. This is given their responsibility for national security.
“The focus should indeed be on the Federal Government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, who are responsible for national security, particularly on the actions taken within the first 72 hours of the incident,” he said.
Makinde recalls Borno abductions
The commissioner also recalled that Governor Seyi Makinde had appealed to President Bola Tinubu. He urged the President to speed up efforts to rescue 40 students abducted in Borno State.
Oyelade said the Oyo State Government would continue working with Imo State, security agencies and other stakeholders. They will persist until the abducted prospective corps members are safely released.
