Ibadan / Owerri — Parents of the 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State have confirmed that the money they raised as ransom for their children’s release has been fully returned to them.
The confirmation came on Saturday, October 11, 2026, days after the victims regained their freedom.
One of the affected parents, Obasanjo Wahab, whose son was among those abducted, told journalists that all families had received refunds of the amounts they contributed, including the ₦6 million raised by his household.
His wife, Alirat Wahab, corroborated the development, stating that the funds were returned to the family representatives who had travelled on their behalf. “They returned it to those who went to represent us. Every parent has received their money back,” she said.
The 20 prospective corps members were kidnapped on October 1, 2026, along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State. They were travelling in two commercial buses from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen attacked the vehicles. Ten other passengers reportedly escaped during the incident.
Kidnappers initially demanded ₦50 million for each victim, amounting to ₦1 billion, before reducing the figure to around ₦5 million to ₦6 million per person during negotiations. Some families said they pooled resources in Ibadan, with portions converted to dollars, and sent representatives to Imo State with the money.
The victims were released on October 7, 2026, at Amakohia Ubi village in Owerri West Local Government Area following coordinated operations by the police, military, Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies. They later reunited with their families in Ibadan after medical checks and debriefing.
Imo State Commissioner of Police Audu Bosso had earlier stated that he was unaware of any ransom payment, attributing the release to sustained pressure on the kidnappers by security operatives who combed the forest hideouts.
The parents declined to specify who returned the money or whether any portion had reached the abductors. Obasanjo Wahab urged the public to move past the controversy and expressed gratitude to the Imo State Government for its role in securing the victims’ freedom.
The incident has drawn renewed attention to the security challenges faced by young Nigerians travelling for national service, with calls for improved protection along major highways.
About the Author
