‘I Paid N6m for His Freedom’ — Mother Recounts Ordeal After NYSC Member’s Abduction
By Our Reporter
A mother of one of the 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) abducted in Imo State has disclosed that she paid N6 million ransom to secure her son’s release from his kidnappers.
The woman, who spoke during an interview with News Central Television on Wednesday, said the abductors initially demanded N50 million for each of the victims before eventually reducing the ransom demanded for her son to N6 million.
According to her, the family pleaded with the kidnappers to accept N500,000, but the abductors rejected the offer and continued to increase the pressure on the families. She said the kidnappers later demanded N15 million before finally agreeing to accept N6 million.
She explained that the abductors directed parents of the victims to send representatives to Ibadan as part of the arrangements for the ransom payment. Her husband and her son’s elder brother were among those who went to meet the kidnappers’ representatives.
The mother said the kidnappers instructed them to transfer the ransom into an account and later convert the money to dollars after reaching Imo State. Her elder son subsequently delivered the ransom to the abductors as part of the arrangement that led to his brother’s release.
She said the family received confirmation that her son had been released after the ransom was delivered, adding that they were also able to speak with him. The mother, whose identity was not disclosed, said the ordeal left her traumatised and unable to sleep while her son remained in captivity.
The 20 prospective corps members were abducted on October 1 after gunmen attacked two 18-seater buses travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, along the Owerri-Onitsha expressway. Security agencies later rescued the victims in an intelligence-led operation involving the police, military and Department of State Services (DSS).
