The mother of one of the 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway has revealed that her family paid N6 million to secure her son’s release.
The woman, whose name was withheld, disclosed this during an interview with News Central Television on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, saying the kidnappers initially demanded N50 million for each victim before reducing the ransom demanded for her son to N6 million.
Her account came hours after the Nigeria Police Force announced that the 20 abducted prospective corps members had been rescued in Imo State through a joint security operation.
Speaking in Yoruba, the woman said the family pleaded with the kidnappers to reduce their demand after they were initially asked to pay N50 million for her son’s release.
“Initially, they asked us to pay N50 million per head. We asked whether the amount was for all of them, but they insisted that no, it was for each person. Later, we started begging them to take N500,000. But they said no and started scaring us,” she said.
According to her, the kidnappers later reduced the demand to N15 million before eventually agreeing to accept N6 million.
“Three days ago, they called and said we should pay N15 million. We kept begging them that all we had was N5.5 million. They said no and insisted on N6 million. So, it’s that N6 million we paid.”
She said the abductors contacted the victims’ parents and directed them to send representatives to a meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State, as part of arrangements for the ransom payment.
According to the woman, her husband and the victim’s elder brother travelled to Ibadan for the meeting.
“When they got to the meeting place, they asked them to send the money to an account and that when they got to Imo state, they should change the money into dollars,” she said.
She said her elder son was among those who delivered the ransom to the kidnappers and later contacted the family to confirm that his brother had been released.
“It was the brother who called us this evening to say that they had handed the ransom to the kidnappers and that they had released our son. We also spoke to the boy,” she said.
The mother said her son’s abduction subjected her to severe emotional and physical distress, leaving her unable to sleep throughout the period of his captivity.
“Since he was kidnapped, I have been stooling. I couldn’t sleep either. But I was relieved when I heard they had been released. It was as though the chains all over me were loosened,” she said.
The 20 prospective NYSC members were abducted on October 1 when gunmen attacked two 18-seater buses conveying passengers from Ibadan along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway.
A video circulated on X showed the passengers travelling towards Akwa Ibom and Abia states in buses bearing the Abia State Government logo before the attackers reportedly intercepted the vehicles, robbed the occupants and forced them into the forest.
Imo State Police Command spokesperson, Henry Okoye, had confirmed that the attack occurred at about 6:30 a.m., saying 10 of the victims were rescued immediately while security operatives commenced intelligence-led search-and-rescue operations for the remaining victims.
The abduction was followed by reports that the kidnappers demanded N1 billion from the victims’ parents, giving them 24 hours to pay for their children’s release. The demand was later reportedly reduced to N5 million per victim, amounting to N100 million for the 20 abducted prospective corps members.
Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, subsequently deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to coordinate the rescue operation.
Force spokesperson, Anietie Iniedu, said Nadada arrived in Imo with two commissioners of police, assessed the operation and issued directives to strengthen the deployment of personnel and operational assets.
Announcing the victims’ release on Wednesday, Iniedu said the rescue was carried out by a joint team comprising operatives of the Department of State Services, the military and the police.
“The victims were rescued on 7th October 2026 at Amakohia Ubi Village, Imo State, following sustained search-and-rescue operations. They have since been taken for medical assessment and necessary care,” the police statement said.
While the mother attributed her son’s release to the payment of N6 million ransom, the police maintained that the 20 prospective corps members were rescued following sustained joint security operations.
