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

Gunmen have abducted 10 passengers, including a recently discharged member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), along the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Road in Ogun State, demanding N25 million ransom for their release.

The victims were reportedly travelling in a commercial bus when armed men intercepted the vehicle and took them into a nearby forest on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. 

The two ex-corps members were said to have been among the passengers, with one escaping while the other remained in captivity.

A sister to one of the victims, identified as Abigael, confirmed the incident to journalists, saying her brother, Dapo, who recently completed his NYSC programme in Edo State, was among those abducted.

She said the passengers were attacked shortly after passing through Ijebu-Ode, adding that the gunmen threatened to unalive or injure them if they failed to cooperate.

According to her, the incident was reported at the Ijebu-Ode Police Station, but the kidnappers later contacted the family through her brother’s phone, initially demanding N20 million before increasing the ransom to N25 million.

She said the abductors gave the family a 24-hour deadline to pay.

Recounting how the family learnt about the incident, Abigael said her brother had been updating them on his journey from Edo State to Ibadan and had sent a video showing traffic congestion shortly before communication was lost.

She said the family received news of the abduction around 7pm on Tuesday when a fellow corps member who escaped contacted 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 said.

She added that the escaped corps member informed the family that their bus had been attacked and that Dapo and nine other passengers had been taken away. 

Abigael said the escapee also told them that police officers and vigilantes had entered the forest in search of the victims.

She disclosed that the family visited the Ijebu-Ode Police Station on Wednesday, where they were informed that security operatives were yet to return from the search operation.

According to her, the kidnappers subsequently called using Dapo’s phone and demanded N20 million. They called again around 6.59pm, raising the demand to N25 million.

She said the abductors ended the conversation after the family pleaded for more time, insisting that payment must be made before the deadline on Thursday.

Abigael also disclosed that the bus and the passengers’ belongings had been recovered and taken to the police station, but the victims remained in captivity.

Appealing for government intervention, she said the families were struggling to raise the ransom and feared for the safety of their relatives.

“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 said.

The corps member who escaped also narrated the incident in a voice note shared with journalists, alleging that the driver suddenly diverted from the main road into a bush path after encountering traffic.

He said passengers became apprehensive and shouted at the driver to turn back, but he continued driving towards the forest.

According to him, the vehicle came under attack as it approached the kidnappers’ 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 said.

He added that police officers and vigilantes later entered the forest in search of the victims.

A senior police source in the Ogun State Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the abduction of passengers along the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Road.