KIDNAPPED CORPS MEMBERS PAID N6M RANSOM EACH, OFFERED SOUTH-WEST POSTINGS
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The 20 prospective corps members abducted by suspected kidnappers in Imo State have reportedly paid N6m each in ransom to secure their release and been offered the opportunity to choose any of the six South-West states for their national service.
A parent of one of the survivors, who spoke on condition of anonymity on Friday, disclosed that the graduates had been given the option of choosing where to continue their National Youth Service Corps programme.
“They have been given the opportunity to choose states in the South-West to continue their service with the current batch,” the parent said.
The parent also confirmed that the families eventually paid N6m for each captive, despite the kidnappers’ initial demand of N50m per person.
“As for the ransom, we eventually paid N6m each, but we wanted them freed before disclosing that,” the parent added.
A relative of another survivor, identified as Joy Zainab, also confirmed that family members and well-wishers contributed towards the ransom.
She expressed gratitude to those who supported the family financially and offered prayers and other assistance during the ordeal.
“Alhamdulillah, he has been released and is safe with us at home. Thank you to everyone who prayed, reached out, showed concern, shared his story and supported us financially towards his ransom,” she said.
The accounts corroborated an earlier disclosure by Alirat Wahab, the mother of another survivor, who said her family paid N6m after the kidnappers initially demanded N50m per captive.
Speaking in an interview with News Central Television, Wahab said the abductors later reduced their demand to N15m before eventually agreeing to accept N6m following appeals from the family.
She explained that the family initially pleaded with the kidnappers to accept N500,000, but they rejected the offer.
According to Wahab, the kidnappers subsequently instructed the families to send representatives to Ibadan, Oyo State, where her husband and son met an intermediary.
The money was later transferred into a designated account, while the representatives were directed to convert the funds into US dollars upon arriving in Imo State.
The 20 prospective corps members were abducted on October 1 along the Owerri-Onitsha Road, near Umunoha in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, while travelling in two commercial buses operated by Uko Akwa Ibom Motors.
The victims were reportedly travelling to Abia and Akwa Ibom states when they were seized by the suspected kidnappers, who subsequently demanded N50m for each captive.
The police announced on Wednesday that the graduates had been rescued at Amakohia Ubi Village in the Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.
However, the families disputed the police account, insisting that ransom payments were made to secure the victims’ release.
One of the mothers also disclosed that she and her daughter had been hospitalised following the incident, attributing her deteriorating health to the stress of the ordeal.
“Both of us are in the hospital. We are receiving drips and treatment. My blood pressure shot up over this incident,” she said.
One of the survivors, while expressing gratitude for regaining freedom, declined to discuss the details of the abduction.
“I don’t want to remember it. I just want to give the glory to God. I thank God that I am alive,” the survivor said.
Efforts to obtain confirmation from the NYSC spokesperson, Caroline Embu, regarding the reported offer of South-West postings were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to her had not been returned as of press time.
Meanwhile, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, said on Thursday that he was unaware of any ransom payment, maintaining that sustained pressure from security operatives forced the kidnappers to release the victims.
Similarly, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, said the graduates were rescued through joint search-and-rescue operations involving security agencies.
The police also disclosed that the victims were taken to the Department of State Services hospital in Owerri for medical evaluation.
The NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, subsequently visited the survivors alongside the Imo State Commissioner of Police and the Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade.
The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of prospective corps members travelling long distances to orientation camps, particularly amid reports of similar abductions.
On August 26, 15 prospective corps members travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja were abducted along the Aloma-Egane Expressway in the Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State. They were later rescued from Egume Forest by security operatives.
Similarly, in May, an Abuja-based lawyer and serving corps member, Eunice Ameh, was abducted in Maitama, Abuja, but regained her freedom after a ransom was reportedly paid.
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