Gunmen abduct 10 passengers on Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan highway, demand N25m ransom

Gunmen have kidnapped 10 passengers, together with a lately discharged member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), alongside the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Road in Ogun State, demanding N25 million ransom for his or her launch.

The victims had been reportedly travelling in a industrial bus when armed males intercepted the car and took them into a close-by forest on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The two ex-corps members had been stated to have been among the many passengers, with one escaping whereas the opposite remained in captivity.

A sister to one of many victims, recognized as Abigael, confirmed the incident to journalists, saying her brother, Dapo, who lately accomplished his NYSC programme in Edo State, was amongst these kidnapped.

She stated the passengers had been attacked shortly after passing by way of Ijebu-Ode, including that the gunmen threatened to unalive or injure them in the event that they did not cooperate.

According to her, the incident was reported on the Ijebu-Ode Police Station, however the kidnappers later contacted the household by way of her brother’s telephone, initially demanding N20 million earlier than growing the ransom to N25 million.

She stated the abductors gave the household a 24-hour deadline to pay.

Recounting how the household learnt concerning the incident, Abigael stated her brother had been updating them on his journey from Edo State to Ibadan and had despatched a video displaying site visitors congestion shortly earlier than communication was misplaced.

She stated the household obtained information of the kidnapping round 7pm on Tuesday when a fellow corps member who escaped contacted certainly one of her brothers.

“On Tuesday, my brother was on his way back from Edo; he was posted to Edo State for NYSC. He did his POP last week. So he was on his way back to Ibadan. He was still giving us updates about his journey, and at some point, he posted that there was traffic. I have the videos on my phone. That was the last time we heard from him,” she stated.

She added that the escaped corps member knowledgeable the household that their bus had been attacked and that Dapo and 9 different passengers had been taken away.

Abigael stated the escapee additionally instructed them that law enforcement officials and vigilantes had entered the forest in the hunt for the victims.

She disclosed that the household visited the Ijebu-Ode Police Station on Wednesday, the place they had been knowledgeable that safety operatives had been but to return from the search operation.

According to her, the kidnappers subsequently referred to as utilizing Dapo’s telephone and demanded N20 million. They referred to as once more round 6.59pm, elevating the demand to N25 million.

She stated the abductors ended the dialog after the household pleaded for extra time, insisting that fee should be made earlier than the deadline on Thursday.

Abigael additionally disclosed that the bus and the passengers’ belongings had been recovered and brought to the police station, however the victims remained in captivity.

Appealing for presidency intervention, she stated the households had been struggling to lift the ransom and feared for the security of their family.

“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 stated.

The corps member who escaped additionally narrated the incident in a voice observe shared with journalists, alleging that the motive force all of a sudden diverted from the principle highway right into a bush path after encountering site visitors.

He stated passengers turned apprehensive and shouted on the driver to show again, however he continued driving in the direction of the forest.

According to him, the car got here beneath assault because it approached the abductors’ hideout, with the gunmen firing repeatedly.

“As we were travelling, shortly after passing through Ijebu, heading towards Ibadan, it was around 7.00 p.m. We just saw that our driver turned, facing into the bush.

“Before we knew what was happening, the suspected herders launched attacks; they were shooting guns repeatedly. They shot someone, but I just hid inside the bush.

“All I knew was that I found myself in the bush after they had taken others away. Some of the abducted passengers left their phones in the bus. It was a very tough time,” he stated.

He added that law enforcement officials and vigilantes later entered the forest in the hunt for the victims.

A senior police supply within the Ogun State Police Command, who spoke on situation of anonymity, confirmed the kidnapping of passengers alongside the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Road.