Parents of some of the 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted in Imo State have said money contributed by their families as ransom was returned following the release of the victims.
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The prospective corps members were abducted on October 1 after gunmen attacked two 18-seater buses conveying passengers from Ibadan, Oyo State, to Anambra State along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway.
One of the affected parents, Alirat Wahab, had earlier said her family raised ₦6 million in an attempt to secure the release of her son, who was among those kidnapped.
However, in a follow-up account, Obasanjo Wahab disclosed that the money had since been returned to the families.
“The money has been returned. We just want to thank Imo for a job well done,” he said.
Wahab explained that the families could not say with certainty whether the representatives sent to negotiate with the kidnappers actually handed over the ransom before the victims regained their freedom.
“We don’t know,” he said when asked whether the money was eventually paid to the abductors.
According to him, representatives were selected from the affected families to handle negotiations, with one person chosen from his family and two others representing other families.
“They went to look for the kidnapped corps members to see whether they would be freed or not,” he said.
He added that the kidnappers had requested that representatives bring the ransom, but said the victims were eventually released.
“The kidnappers had asked for representatives to bring the ransom. Since they could no longer hold the corps members hostage, they let them go,” he said.
Wahab did not disclose who returned the money or the circumstances under which it was refunded.
He instead urged members of the public to put the episode behind them and appreciate the Imo State Government for its role in the release of the abducted prospective corps members.
“You know what, let’s forget the matter and just appeal to the Imo State Government. We should be grateful to them.
“The money has been returned. We just want to thank Imo for a job well done,” he said.
Alirat Wahab also confirmed that the money was returned through the representatives who had gone on behalf of the families.
“They returned it to those who went to represent us. Every parent has received their money back,” she said.
The kidnappers were reported to have initially demanded ₦1 billion from the families before allegedly reducing the demand to ₦5 million for each victim, which would have amounted to ₦100 million for the 20 prospective corps members.
The exact amount eventually taken to the kidnappers, if any, remains unclear from the families’ accounts.
The Nigeria Police Force had earlier announced that the 20 victims were rescued after seven days in captivity.
Police spokesperson Anietie Iniedu said the operation involved personnel of the police, the military and the State Security Service.
According to the police, the victims were rescued at Amakohia Ubi village in Imo State.
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