By Ayodele Oni
Controversy has continued to trail the release of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo state as their parents countered official narratives by revealing they paid millions of Naira in ransom to secure their children’s freedom.
The kidnapped corps members were rescued on Wednesday evening by security agencies.
The families in separate interviews with the News Central Television, said some relatives paid more than N3 million, while others reportedly paid up to N6 million.
“I paid as much as N3 million as ransom while I was hoping that nothing happened to my child. I ran helter-skelter to raise the money.
“I eventually got the money and sent someone to Imo State to deliver the ransom,” a mother of one of the corps members told News Central Television.
A father, who spoke to News Central Television, said he paid N6 million for the release of his abducted son.
“We had to converge somewhere in Ibadan, Oyo State to put the money together.
“Some of us even changed the money to dollars and sent it to Imo State to meet whoever was coming to pick it.
“I am excited that my son is coming back. However, how do I repay the N6 million I borrowed? I’m just a farmer,” he lamented.
The 20 Corps members were kidnapped while travelling from Oyo State to orientation camp in Abia State.
They regained their freedom seven days after they were abducted on Thursday, October 1, 2026 on the Owerri-Onitsha road in Umunoha, Imo State.
The rescued victims are undergoing treatment at the Department of State Services Hospital in Owerri, Imo State.
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