The mother of a prospective National Youth Service Corps member abducted along the Owerri–Onitsha Expressway has said her family paid ₦6 million to secure his release, presenting a different account from the police announcement attributing the victims’ freedom to a joint security operation.
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The woman, whose name was not disclosed, told News Central Television on Wednesday that the abductors initially demanded ₦50 million for each victim before eventually accepting ₦6 million for her son.
Her account emerged as the Nigeria Police Force announced the rescue of 20 abducted prospective corps members in Imo State on October 7, 2026.
Speaking in Yoruba, the mother described the negotiations and the pressure her family faced while trying to raise the money.
“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.
“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.”
According to her, the kidnappers contacted the victims’ parents and directed them to send representatives to a meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State. Her husband and the abducted graduate’s elder brother attended.
“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.
The mother said her elder son subsequently took the ransom to the kidnappers and contacted the family after his brother regained freedom.
“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.
She described the distress she experienced throughout her son’s captivity and the relief that followed news of his release.
“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 prospective corps 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 buses bearing the Abia State Government logo. The passengers were reportedly travelling towards NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when the attackers intercepted the vehicles, robbed them and forced victims into the forest.
Imo State Police Command spokesperson Henry Okoye confirmed that the attack occurred at about 6.30 a.m. He said 10 victims were rescued immediately, while operatives commenced intelligence-led operations to locate the remaining abductees.
On Saturday, the kidnappers reportedly gave parents 24 hours to raise ₦1 billion. Subsequent reports said the demand had been reduced to ₦5 million per victim, amounting to ₦100 million for 20 people.
The mother’s account, however, was that her family ultimately paid ₦6 million for her son.
Following the abduction, Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu deployed the Deputy Inspector-General in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to coordinate efforts to recover the victims.
Force spokesperson Anietie Iniedu said Nadada arrived in Imo with two commissioners of police, assessed the operation and issued directives to strengthen personnel deployment and the use of operational assets.
Announcing the victims’ freedom on Wednesday, Iniedu attributed the rescue to a joint team comprising State Security Service operatives, military personnel and police officers.
“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.
The quoted police statement did not address whether any families paid ransom. The mother’s account concerns her son’s release and does not establish the circumstances under which every victim regained freedom.
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