OYO/IMO — The family of one of the 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted last week has said it paid ₦6 million in ransom to secure his release, according to interviews with the mother and relatives.
Alirat Wahab told News Central Television that kidnappers initially demanded ₦50 million for each of the victims after the graduates were seized on October 1 while travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states. The attack occurred along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.
Wahab said negotiations reduced the figure over several days. “Initially, they asked us to pay ₦50 million per head… Later, we started begging them… Three days ago, they called and said we should pay ₦15 million. We kept begging them that all we had was ₦5.5 million. They said no and insisted on ₦6 million. So, it’s that ₦6 million we paid,” she stated.
She explained that relatives, friends and others contributed amounts ranging from ₦20,000 to ₦50,000, while the family borrowed the balance. Representatives, including her husband and the victim’s elder brother, were directed to take the money to Imo State and convert it to dollars for delivery. Other families have similarly reported paying between ₦3 million and ₦6 million each.
The victims regained their freedom on or around October 7 after about seven days in captivity and were reported to be receiving medical attention.
Security agencies have presented a different account. The Nigeria Police Force and sister agencies described a coordinated search-and-rescue operation that located the captives in the Amakohia Ubi area of Imo State. Imo State Commissioner of Police Audu Bosso stated that he was not aware of any ransom payment, saying the abductors released the victims under pressure from security operations that involved combing the forest.
The conflicting narratives have drawn public attention, with families insisting the payments enabled the releases while authorities maintain the operation forced the outcome. The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of young Nigerians travelling for national service.
Investigations continue as police hunt the perpetrators.
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