Parents of prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted in Imo State have revealed that they paid millions of naira during efforts to secure their children's release before the victims were eventually rescued.
The 20 prospective corps members were abducted on October 1, 2026, while travelling from Oyo State to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The victims were travelling along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State, when gunmen reportedly attacked the buses conveying them.
After the abduction, the kidnappers contacted some of the victims' families and demanded ransom.
Initial reports indicated that the abductors demanded as much as N50 million for each victim, putting the total demand at N1 billion. The reported demand was subsequently reduced to N5 million per person, or N100 million in total.
The families were placed under enormous pressure as the abductors threatened the lives of the captives and reportedly subjected some of them to physical assault.
Earlier accounts also indicated that some parents were contacted using the phones of their abducted children and were shown their children during video calls from the kidnappers' hideout.
With the victims still in captivity, their parents and relatives began looking for ways to meet the kidnappers' demands.
The latest account from the families indicates that millions of naira were paid during the ransom negotiations before the eventual rescue.
The payments reportedly formed part of the desperate attempts by parents to secure the safe return of their children after days of uncertainty.
The families' disclosure highlights the difficult choices faced by relatives of kidnapping victims, who often have to balance demands for money with fears that negotiations or ransom payments could affect security operations.
Authorities had meanwhile maintained a largely discreet approach to the rescue effort.
As the ordeal continued, the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services and other security agencies intensified efforts to locate and rescue the victims.
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, alongside additional tactical teams and operational assets to Imo State.
Security forces eventually located a suspected hideout using drone surveillance.
However, an immediate assault on the location was reportedly delayed after intelligence indicated that the area could have been rigged with improvised explosive devices.
Security officials subsequently considered using specialised equipment, including bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers, to gain access while reducing the risk to both the hostages and the rescuers.
The 20 prospective corps members were eventually rescued on October 8 after days in captivity.
The police said the victims were rescued at about 4:28pm at Amakohia-Ubi Village in Imo State following sustained and coordinated search-and-rescue operations.
A joint team involving the police, military, DSS and other security agencies was involved in the operation.
The victims were subsequently taken for medical examination and necessary medical attention.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma later explained that authorities had deliberately restricted information during the operation because of concerns that public disclosures could compromise the rescue mission.
He praised the security agencies for their role and commended the victims' parents for their patience during the operation.
The families' disclosure that millions of naira were paid adds a new dimension to the account of the abduction.
Police and other security agencies have not publicly provided a detailed account of any ransom payments made during the operation or confirmed how much money was paid.
Earlier reports contained different figures for the kidnappers' demands, ranging from N950 million to N1 billion before the reported reduction to N100 million.
The circumstances surrounding the payments, including who paid, how much was paid and whether the money contributed directly to the victims' release, therefore remain matters requiring further clarification.
For the families, however, the immediate priority was the safe return of their children.
The rescue has ended the victims' captivity, but security agencies are still expected to identify and arrest those responsible for the abduction.
The 20 prospective corps members were abducted on October 1, 2026, while travelling from Oyo State to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The victims were travelling along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State, when gunmen reportedly attacked the buses conveying them.
After the abduction, the kidnappers contacted some of the victims' families and demanded ransom.
Initial reports indicated that the abductors demanded as much as N50 million for each victim, putting the total demand at N1 billion. The reported demand was subsequently reduced to N5 million per person, or N100 million in total.
The families were placed under enormous pressure as the abductors threatened the lives of the captives and reportedly subjected some of them to physical assault.
Earlier accounts also indicated that some parents were contacted using the phones of their abducted children and were shown their children during video calls from the kidnappers' hideout.
With the victims still in captivity, their parents and relatives began looking for ways to meet the kidnappers' demands.
The latest account from the families indicates that millions of naira were paid during the ransom negotiations before the eventual rescue.
The payments reportedly formed part of the desperate attempts by parents to secure the safe return of their children after days of uncertainty.
The families' disclosure highlights the difficult choices faced by relatives of kidnapping victims, who often have to balance demands for money with fears that negotiations or ransom payments could affect security operations.
Authorities had meanwhile maintained a largely discreet approach to the rescue effort.
As the ordeal continued, the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services and other security agencies intensified efforts to locate and rescue the victims.
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, alongside additional tactical teams and operational assets to Imo State.
Security forces eventually located a suspected hideout using drone surveillance.
However, an immediate assault on the location was reportedly delayed after intelligence indicated that the area could have been rigged with improvised explosive devices.
Security officials subsequently considered using specialised equipment, including bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers, to gain access while reducing the risk to both the hostages and the rescuers.
The 20 prospective corps members were eventually rescued on October 8 after days in captivity.
The police said the victims were rescued at about 4:28pm at Amakohia-Ubi Village in Imo State following sustained and coordinated search-and-rescue operations.
A joint team involving the police, military, DSS and other security agencies was involved in the operation.
The victims were subsequently taken for medical examination and necessary medical attention.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma later explained that authorities had deliberately restricted information during the operation because of concerns that public disclosures could compromise the rescue mission.
He praised the security agencies for their role and commended the victims' parents for their patience during the operation.
The families' disclosure that millions of naira were paid adds a new dimension to the account of the abduction.
Police and other security agencies have not publicly provided a detailed account of any ransom payments made during the operation or confirmed how much money was paid.
Earlier reports contained different figures for the kidnappers' demands, ranging from N950 million to N1 billion before the reported reduction to N100 million.
The circumstances surrounding the payments, including who paid, how much was paid and whether the money contributed directly to the victims' release, therefore remain matters requiring further clarification.
For the families, however, the immediate priority was the safe return of their children.
The rescue has ended the victims' captivity, but security agencies are still expected to identify and arrest those responsible for the abduction.
Filed under
#NYSC
#Kidnapping
#Imo State
#Ransom
#Corps Members
#Police
#Security
#Abduction
#Nigeria
#Parents
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Parents of prospective NYSC members abducted in Imo State say they paid millions of naira to secure their children's release before the victims were rescued, raising fresh questions about the ransom negotiations and the circumstances surrounding the seven-day ordeal. Parents of prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted in Imo State have revealed that they paid millions of...
Key takeaways
- Parents of prospective NYSC members abducted in Imo State say they paid millions of naira to secure their children's release before the victims were rescued, raising fresh questions about the ransom negotiations and the circumstances surrounding the seven-day ordeal.
- Parents of prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted in Imo State have revealed that they paid millions of naira during efforts to secure their children's release before the victims were eventually rescued.The 20 prospective corps members were abducted on October 1, 2026, while travelling from Oyo State to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.The victims were travelling along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State, when gunmen reportedly attacked the buses conveying them.After the abduction, the kidnappers contacted some of the victims' families and demanded ransom.Initial reports indicated that the abductors demanded as much as N50 million for each victim, putting the total demand at N1 billion.
- The reported demand was subsequently reduced to N5 million per person, or N100 million in total.The families were placed under enormous pressure as the abductors threatened the lives of the captives and reportedly subjected some of them to physical assault.Earlier accounts also indicated that some parents were contacted using the phones of their abducted children and were shown their children during video calls from the kidnappers' hideout.With the victims still in captivity, their parents and relatives began looking for ways to meet the kidnappers' demands.The latest account from the families indicates that millions of naira were paid during the ransom negotiations before the eventual rescue.The payments reportedly formed part of the desperate attempts by parents to secure the safe return of their children after days of uncertainty.The families' disclosure highlights the difficult choices faced by relatives of kidnapping victims, who often have to balance demands for money with fears that negotiations or ransom payments could affect security operations.Authorities had meanwhile maintained a largely discreet approach to the rescue effort.As the ordeal continued, the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services and other security agencies intensified efforts to locate and rescue the victims.Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, alongside additional tactical teams and operational assets to Imo State.Security forces eventually located a suspected hideout using drone surveillance.However, an immediate assault on the location was reportedly delayed after intelligence indicated that the area could have been rigged with improvised explosive devices.Security officials subsequently considered using specialised equipment, including bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers, to gain access while reducing the risk to both the hostages and the rescuers.The 20 prospective corps members were eventually rescued on October 8 after days in captivity.The police said the victims were rescued at about 4:28pm at Amakohia-Ubi Village in Imo State following sustained and coordinated search-and-rescue operations.A joint team involving the police, military, DSS and other security agencies was involved in the operation.The victims were subsequently taken for medical examination and necessary medical attention.Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma later explained that authorities had deliberately restricted information during the operation because of concerns that public disclosures could compromise the rescue mission.He praised the security agencies for their role and commended the victims' parents for their patience during the operation.The families' disclosure that millions of naira were paid adds a new dimension to the account of the abduction.Police and other security agencies have not publicly provided a detailed account of any ransom payments made during the operation or confirmed how much money was paid.Earlier reports contained different figures for the kidnappers' demands, ranging from N950 million to N1 billion before the reported reduction to N100 million.The circumstances surrounding the payments, including who paid, how much was paid and whether the money contributed directly to the victims' release, therefore remain matters requiring further clarification.For the families, however, the immediate priority was the safe return of their children.The rescue has ended the victims' captivity, but security agencies are still expected to identify and arrest those responsible for the abduction.
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Parents of prospective NYSC members abducted in Imo State say they paid millions of naira to secure their children's release before the victims were rescued, raising fresh questions about the ransom negotiations and the circumstances surrounding the seven-day ordeal. Parents of prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted in Imo State have revealed that they paid millions of...
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Glow 99.1 FM published this story with GlowRy Atuah listed as author.
When was it published?
October 8, 2026
