Police for Nigeria tok say dem don rescue 20 young people wey some gunmen abduct for south-east Nigeria last week. The graduates na members of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, and dem kidnap dem on 1 October as dem dey travel go national community service programme for Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
Police spokesman Ani Iniedu yarn for statement on Wednesday say police rescue the group at Amakohia Ubi for Imo State after sustained search-and-rescue operation. Other security agencies assist the police. The group dey being looked after and dem don take dem go for medical evaluation.
Iniedu tok say police, military and other security agencies conduct intelligence-led searches for forests and suspected hideouts. But e no tok whether anybody pay ransom or whether police arrest anybody. The spokesman still tok say dem dey make effort to catch the perpetrators and bring dem to justice.
Before the rescue, police bin tok say dem identify where the group dey but dem no fit rescue dem because the place get explosives. The NYSC na compulsory one-year community service programme for most Nigerian university graduates, and government dey post people go different parts of the country.
The group dey travel inside two buses on major highway from Ibadan for south-western Oyo State go NYSC orientation camps for Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen attack the vehicles. The incident don reignite concerns over insecurity and kidnapping along roads for south-east.
Before dem release the people, father of one of the abducted persons, Omotosho Adewale, tell BBC say kidnappers demand ransom of 50m naira, wey be $37,680 or £28,440, and e no fit afford am. E talk say there is no peace of mind, say e never eat for three days, as tears dey run.
Kidnapping for ransom na major security problem for Nigeria, involving criminal gangs and armed groups. Authorities never release information about identity of the attackers. Government don outlaw paying ransom to kidnappers to remove incentive for the gangs, but the law don get little effect.
For another side, Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, don deny any hand for the abduction. IPOB describe any attempt to link IPOB to the kidnapping of the corps members as calculated falsehood meant to demonise the movement.
IPOB accuse Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma say e dey manipulate the state security situation to frame Biafran agitators for the abduction of NYSC members. The group call for independent, international probe of the abduction wey happen along Onitsha-Owerri axis, including alleged financial trails of ransom payments.
IPOB make the allegations for statement on Saturday, October 10, by im Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful. Powerful condemn the abduction of the corps members, wey dem don rescue, and deny say IPOB no dey involved.
IPOB allege say the incidents for Imo State dey being exploited for political purposes. The group claim say Uzodimma dey seek to strengthen im political standing with President Bola Tinubu amid reported political tensions involving Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
IPOB still allege say Governor Uzodimma dey attempt to present himself as indispensable security figure for South-East. The group also claim say Uzodimma dey position himself for Senate presidency, and allege say some Igbo politicians fear say if dem release IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, e go reduce their political influence.
The Biafran group raise concern over wetin e call suspicious security gaps for parts of Imo State. IPOB allege say military personnel inexplicably abandon key checkpoints, creating opportunities for armed groups to operate.
IPOB allege say these voids dey systematically filled by politically sponsored militias and armed groups wey dem task to stage attacks, abductions, and extortion scheme ransom collections, all designed to pin on IPOB. IPOB also call for scrutiny of circumstances around the abductions and subsequent rescue operations, suggesting the incidents dey being used to discredit Biafra self-determination campaign.
IPOB accuse unnamed criminal elements and alleged state-sponsored agents say dem dey exploit im announced plan to boycott elections to engage in criminal activities while falsely attributing them to the group. The group say e don declare intention to boycott elections but e go announce specific methods for implementing the decision closer to the time.
IPOB allege say individuals wey previously hijack Monday sit-at-home exercises now dey use the election boycott position as cover for criminality. Criminal elements and state-sponsored agents wey previously hijack Monday sit-at-homes dey now use the cover say IPOB say dem go boycott to unleash criminality and frame the peaceful movement, IPOB tok.
IPOB maintain say e dey pursue self-determination for Igbo people and other communities wey e consider part of Biafra. The group insist say nobody suppose hold the movement responsible for criminal acts just because of im political objectives.
IPOB tok say the group no dey target civilians, students, or NYSC members, and describe im campaign as peaceful, legally anchored quest for self-determination through referendum. The group call for immediate, open and independent international investigation into the reported abductions along Onitsha-Owerri axis.
IPOB specifically demand say investigators suppose examine circumstances around the incidents and trace alleged ransom payments to establish who receive the money and whether any individuals or groups benefit financially. The group urge Nigerians and international community make dem no accept wetin e call political campaign to associate Biafra movement with insecurity for South-East.
We urge the public and the international community to look past the political theatre orchestrated from Owerri, IPOB add.
