“So They Were Not Rescued?” – Nigerians Reacts As Mother Reveals How Family Paid Ransom To Free Abducted NYSC Son

A mother of one of the prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted in Imo State has revealed how her family negotiated with the kidnappers and eventually paid N6 million to secure her son’s release.

The prospective corps members were abducted on October 1 when gunmen attacked two buses travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State. The victims were later freed in a joint security operation involving the police, military and DSS, according to security authorities.

However, the mother’s account has now raised questions over the circumstances surrounding their release.

Speaking in an interview with News Central Television, she said the kidnappers initially demanded N50 million for each victim before negotiations reduced the amount.

“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 abductors later demanded N15 million, but the family told them they could only raise N5.5 million before eventually settling for 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 explained that family members and other relatives pooled the money in Ibadan and sent representatives to Imo State with the ransom.

“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.”

The mother said her son’s elder brother was among those who travelled with the ransom and later informed the family that it had been handed over to the kidnappers.

“It is not rumours. They have all been released and sent to us. His brother is among the people who went to meet with the abductors three days ago. They left with the ransom,” she said.

A father of another abducted NYSC member also said families pooled money in Ibadan, with some funds being converted to dollars and sent to Imo State for delivery. Another report quoted him as saying he borrowed N6 million and questioned how he would repay it.

The ransom claims have created a sharp contrast with the official account of the victims’ release. Security authorities said the prospective corps members were rescued during a joint operation, while reports initially said it was unclear whether ransom had been paid.

@its_Miguel04: “So no be say they rescued them na pay their parent paid 🤨”

@FuturePrestk: “What a country we live in….. Failed government”

@ziga009: “But they said the police rescued. The kidnappers released them after collecting ransom. They will eventually go for another kidnap if they’re not apprehended and arrested.”

@intelligence_70: “Una go just Dey lie 😒 flew Wetyn. To where ? Changed 6million to usd ??? That’s like 4.5k $ 😒”

@NgoeMotale: “They always ask for dollars. A serious government will trace these criminals and neutralize them”

@Isenakho: “So una even get this money….? 🤔🤔🤔”

“We negotiated from ₦50M to ₦5M for my son, but the kidnappers refused, demanded ₦15M, we later settled for ₦6M, they asked to change it to dollars. So we flew the money from Ibadan to Imo State,” – Mother of one of the NYSC victims speaks pic.twitter.com/4VKBpqsUkt