NYSC Abduction: Family Appeals for Rescue of 10 Victims

November 6, 2026 Quadri Olaitan

A family says kidnappers have demanded a ransom of ₦25 million for Dapo and nine others abducted on the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Road, while Ogun Police confirm an abduction but dispute the claim that corps members were involved

A key distinction is that the number and identity of those abducted remain disputed. The family and other reports identify corps members among the victims, but Ogun State Police have confirmed that people were kidnapped in the area while denying that any NYSC member was taken.

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The report below keeps both accounts clear rather than presenting the family’s claims as an official confirmation.

The family of Dapo, a recently discharged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, has appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to secure the release of 10 people reportedly abducted along the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Road in Ogun State.

Dapo’s sister, Abigeal, said the victims were seized on Tuesday evening, shortly after leaving Ijebu-Ode for Ibadan. Her brother had been returning from Edo State, where he completed his national service and participated in the passing-out ceremony the previous week.

According to Abigeal, Dapo had been keeping the family informed about his journey and sent a video showing traffic congestion shortly before communication with him was lost.

The family reportedly learnt of the abduction after one of the corps members travelling with the group escaped and contacted a relative to report that the vehicle had been attacked.

Abigeal said the incident was reported at the Ijebu-Ode Police Station. She added that police officers and local vigilantes had entered the surrounding bush in search of the victims, but the initial operation did not produce information about their whereabouts.

The family later received calls from the kidnappers, who allegedly used Dapo’s phone to make contact. Abigeal said the abductors initially demanded ₦20 million before increasing the ransom to ₦25 million during a subsequent call on Wednesday evening.

She said the family briefly heard Dapo’s voice before the kidnappers took over the conversation and issued a 24-hour deadline for payment.

“We just heard his voice. He said, ‘Hello, mummy.’ We asked, ‘What is happening?’ They collected the phone from him and said they were demanding N20m,” she recounted.

Abigeal said the abductors called again at about 6.59pm, raising their demand to ₦25 million. She added that the family pleaded with them but could not meet the amount.

The sister also disclosed that the bus and some of the passengers’ belongings had been recovered and taken to the police station. Dapo’s luggage was subsequently handed over to the family, although the victims remained missing.

Recounting the attack, the corps member who escaped said the driver suddenly diverted from the main road onto a bush path at about 7pm, shortly after they passed through Ijebu-Ode.

According to the survivor, the passengers became concerned about the unexpected turn and tried to get the driver to reverse, but the vehicle continued into the bush.

He said armed men subsequently emerged and opened fire. The survivor claimed that one person was shot during the attack, while he hid and later found himself in the bush after the other occupants had been taken away.

The account of the attack has not been independently verified. Other reports on the incident have also identified nine corps members and a driver among those reportedly abducted, while the escaped passenger was said to have alerted relatives.

Abigeal appealed to the authorities to intensify efforts to locate and rescue the victims, expressing concern that they had already spent several nights in captivity.

“We are calling on the government, the security operatives and everybody to help us because they have been in the bush since Tuesday. They have already spent two nights with the kidnappers, and we don’t even have the N25m to raise,” she said.

She added that the family was particularly worried after hearing Dapo’s voice during the kidnappers’ call, saying he sounded distressed.

However, the Ogun State Police Command disputed the claim that corps members were among those abducted.

Its spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed that some people had been kidnapped around the Ogun State corridor of the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Road but said no NYSC member was involved.

“There was no abduction of 10 corps members. I can confirm that no corps member was abducted. Some persons were abducted, and we are on it,” Babaseyi said.

The police confirmation establishes that an abduction occurred in the area, but the identities and number of those taken remain unclear amid the conflicting accounts.