NYSC Abduction: Lack Of Rescue Evidence Responsible For Controversy Of Ransom Payment – Parent

One of the parents of the released 20 National Youth Service Corps members has identified lack of transparent accounts or visible proof of a tactical rescue clash or operation deepen suspicions over how they were released. She said lack of rescue evidence led to the controversy surrounding payment of ransom by the parents. Speaking with our correspondent, the parent, who pleaded for anonymity said families initially pooled and paid millions of naira (ranging from ₦3 million to ₦6 million per family, converted to dollars) to secure the release of the 20 prospective NYSC members, but the contributed ransom money was later returned/refunded to the parents after the victims regained their freedom. According to her, families in Ibadan gathered funds, raised and borrowed millions (with some families contributing up to ₦6 million plus extra demands), converted the cash to dollars, and sent representatives to Imo State. However, while security forces (Police, DSS, and military) maintained that the victims were rescued through a joint operation without ransom being paid, the parents confirmed that the pooled money they paid/contributed was subsequently returned to them, leaving uncertainty over whether a third party or intermediary had attempted to profit before returning the funds. She noted that the Imo State Police Command and government authorities publicly insisted that no ransom was paid, attributing the release instead to a joint security rescue operation by the police, military, and Department of State Services (DSS).

Speaking, another parent, Alirat Wahab, who disclosed that her family had paid ₦6 million to the kidnappers to secure his freedom, she said her husband, Obasanjo, said he could not confirm whether representatives sent by the community had eventually paid the ransom demanded by the kidnappers.

According to her, all the affected families had received refunds of the money they contributed, including the ₦6 million paid by his family.

He, however, did not disclose who returned the money or the circumstances surrounding the refunds.

“They went to look for the kidnapped corps members to see whether they would be freed or not,” he said.

“The kidnappers had asked for representatives to bring the ransom. Since they could no longer hold the corps members hostage, they let them go.”

On the circumstances surrounding the release and the refund, Obasanjo urged the public to put the matter behind them and appreciate the Imo State Government.

“You know what, let’s forget the matter and just appeal to the Imo State Government. We should be grateful to them,” he said.

“The money has been returned. We just want to thank Imo for a job well done.”

Asked whether the ransom had been paid to the kidnappers, Obasanjo said the families could not confirm that it had been.

“We don’t know,” he said.

Obasanjo added that three representatives had been selected to act on behalf of the affected families, with one from his family and two from other families.

Alirat also confirmed that the money was returned to the representatives who had gone on behalf of the families, adding that every parent had received their contribution back.

“They returned it to those who went to represent us. Every parent has received their money back,” she said.

It would be recalled that 20 prospective NYSC members were kidnapped on October 1, 2026, along the Owerri-Onitsha expressway while traveling from Ibadan to Anambra. The kidnappers initially demanded ₦5 million per person (₦100 million total).