Ransom Money Returned to Families of Freed Abducted NYSC Members
Parents of the recently freed National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State have confirmed that the money contributed as ransom has been returned to them.
Obasanjo and Alirat Wahab, parents of one of the abducted corps members, disclosed that all the affected families had received refunds of the money contributed to secure their children’s release.
Twenty prospective corps members were abducted on October 1 along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway after gunmen attacked two 18-seater buses conveying passengers from Ibadan, Oyo State, to Anambra State.
The kidnappers initially demanded ₦1 billion from the victims’ families before reducing the ransom to ₦5 million per person, bringing the total demand to ₦100 million.
On Wednesday, the Nigeria Police Force announced that the victims had been rescued after seven days in captivity through a joint operation involving the police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the military.
According to the police, the victims were rescued in Amakohia Ubi village, Imo State.
Speaking after her son’s release, Alirat told News Central that her family had paid ₦6 million to the kidnappers to secure his freedom.
However, in a follow-up interview, Obasanjo said he could not confirm whether the representatives selected by the families and their community had eventually paid the ransom.
He explained that all the families had received their contributions back, including the ₦6 million reportedly paid by his family.
Obasanjo, however, did not reveal who returned the money or the circumstances surrounding the refunds.
He said representatives had gone to negotiate on behalf of the families after the kidnappers requested that people be sent to deliver the ransom.
According to him, the abductors released the victims after they could no longer keep them in captivity.
Appealing for the matter to be put behind them, Obasanjo expressed gratitude to the Imo State Government for its role in the rescue operation.
“We just want to thank Imo for a job well done,” he said.
Asked whether the ransom had been paid to the kidnappers, he replied that the families did not know.
Alirat also confirmed that the money was returned to the representatives who had gone on behalf of the families.
She added that every parent had received their money back.
