NANS Demands Probe of Transport Firm as Fresh Details Emerge on Abducted Corps Members

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for an urgent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, following fresh allegations about the vehicles conveying the victims.

NANS, in a statement issued on Monday by its National President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, said it received information suggesting that the two buses carrying the corps members were travelling in convoy when they reached the location where the abduction occurred.

According to the association, one of the drivers reportedly stopped, claiming that he wanted to give money to someone on the other side of the road.

The second bus was said to have stopped alongside the first, after which armed men allegedly emerged from the bush and abducted the corps members.

NANS said it was particularly concerned by information that neither of the two drivers was reportedly taken by the kidnappers, while the armed men were allegedly already positioned around the area where the buses stopped.

The association said the circumstances raised questions that required an urgent and transparent investigation, stressing that it was not in a position to establish what happened or attribute responsibility to any individual or transport company.

It therefore called on relevant security agencies and government authorities to investigate the operations of UDUA KING Transport Service in connection with the incident.

NANS further urged the authorities to consider suspending the company’s operations, where necessary, pending the conclusion of the investigation and determination of what transpired.

“As a precautionary measure, we advise students and other travellers to exercise extreme caution and, pending clarification of the circumstances surrounding this incident, consider avoiding UDUA KING Transport Service,” the association said.

NANS said the safety of students and young Nigerians travelling across the country remained a priority, insisting that anyone found to have compromised the safety of the victims should be held accountable.

The call came amid fresh concerns over the condition of the 20 abducted prospective corps members, as the kidnappers reportedly reduced their ransom demand from N50 million to N5 million per victim.

Politics Nigeria reports that the reduction brings the total ransom demanded for the 20 victims to N100 million.

The kidnappers had reportedly issued a 24-hour deadline on Friday for payment of the initial N50 million ransom, with the ultimatum expected to expire on Sunday.

One of the affected parents, Alimot Akande, disclosed in a telephone conversation with Nigerian Tribune that the kidnappers had communicated the new demand to the families.

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

Akande said the kidnappers had established contact with the respective parents of the victims using their mobile telephone lines.

She, however, expressed concern over reports that the abducted corps members were being subjected to physical assault as the kidnappers pressured their families to raise the ransom.

According to her, the victims were being asked to persuade their parents to meet the latest demand, with threats of further consequences if the money was not provided.

Akande said she could not determine how much had so far been raised by the affected families because she was unaware of the individual arrangements between the kidnappers and other parents.

Describing the situation as “horrible, scary and overwhelming,” she appealed to the government to intensify efforts to rescue the victims.

She said her sister, 25-year-old Kehinde Akande, was among those abducted, adding that she learnt from her sister that the kidnappers had begun 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.

Akande said the kidnappers were allegedly assaulting both male and female corps members, adding that “they are not sparing anybody. They are beating all of them.”

She also disclosed that one of the abducted corps members had been allowed to communicate with his father, but alleged that the kidnappers were using the calls to assess the family’s ability to raise the ransom.

According to her, the kidnappers would alert the victim whenever his father called and allow him to speak because they believed the father could provide the demanded money.

Akande said the affected 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 on it, they will see them rescued,” she said.