Twenty abducted corps members abducted while traveling from Oyo State to orientation camps in Abia State have regained their freedom.
The corps members were freed seven days after their abduction along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State. They are currently receiving treatment at the Department of State Services (DSS) Hospital in Owerri.
The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, visited the medical facility to assess the condition of the rescued victims and address them directly. He was accompanied by the Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade in Imo State, the State Director of the DSS, and the Imo State Commissioner of Police.
Isiah Akpan, Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, independently confirmed the rescue of the corps members to The PUNCH on Wednesday.
Security authorities have not yet disclosed the specific circumstances surrounding the operation, including whether any suspects were apprehended or if a ransom was paid.
‘We paid millions’ – Families of rescued abducted corps members
Families of the abducted prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members disclosed that they paid millions of naira in ransom prior to the victims’ release, with individual payments reportedly ranging from N3 million to N6 million.
The 20 corps members, along with another hostage, were freed on Wednesday in Imo State during a joint operation conducted by security agencies, including the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigerian Police Force.
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 said.
Read Also: Kidnappers Give Parents 24-Hour Deadline To Pay Ransom
Backstory…
The 20 prospective corps members were abducted on Thursday when gunmen ambushed two buses conveying them from Ibadan to their assigned orientation camps.
The abductors initially demanded a ransom of ₦1 billion—equivalent to ₦50 million per victim—before subsequently reducing the demand to ₦5 million per person, totaling ₦100 million.
Following the incident, security agencies launched a coordinated search and rescue operation. The Imo State Police Command subsequently disclosed that drone surveillance successfully pinpointed the kidnappers’ hideout; however, security personnel were initially delayed from storming the location due to the presence of improvised explosive devices planted around the perimeter.
Read Also: Abducted Corps Members- Kidnappers Slash Ransom To N100m, Torture Victims
