The parents of the 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State say they paid millions of naira in ransom before their children were freed, contradicting the police account that security agencies rescued the victims.
CDA News Nigeria reports that, according to the parents, some families paid ₦3 million, while others raised as much as ₦6 million. Their accounts were reported on News Central Television.
One mother said she scrambled to raise ₦3 million and sent someone to deliver it directly to the abductors. The father of another victim said his family borrowed ₦6 million. A third mother said the kidnappers first demanded ₦50 million for each victim, and the families pleaded for a lower amount.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that the victims were abducted on October 1 while travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states. They were released on October 7 after six days in captivity.
The Nigeria Police Force has maintained that it rescued the victims in collaboration with other security agencies. The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, told Channels Television that the command was unaware of any ransom paid for the 20 corps members or for another victim freed separately.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has asked whether the youths were rescued by the security forces or released after ransom was paid. It also asked what happened after the security agencies located the camp.
The families’ claims have not been independently verified, and the authorities have not confirmed that any ransom was paid. It also remains unclear how many families paid and what total sum the abductors may have received.
CDA News Nigeria will update this story as more information emerges.
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