NYSC Abduction: Families Reveal N3m–N6m Ransom Payments as Imo Police Deny Knowledge

Parents of the 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State have alleged that they paid between N3 million and N6 million in ransom to secure their children’s release, while the state police command insists that security operatives rescued the victims without its knowledge of any ransom transaction.

The parents said they struggled to raise the money demanded by the kidnappers, with some borrowing heavily and others converting the funds into US dollars before delivery.

The victims were abducted on October 1, 2026, while travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states. The police announced their release on October 7.

Families struggled to raise ransom

One of the mothers said she paid N3 million after making desperate efforts to gather the money while worrying about her child’s safety.

“I paid as much as ₦3 million as ransom while I was hoping that nothing happened to my child. I ran helter-skelter to raise the money. I eventually got the money and sent someone to deliver the ransom directly to them,” she said.

Another parent, whose son was among the abductees, said family members and relatives met in Ibadan to raise N6 million.

“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,” the father said.

In an interview with News Central Television, another mother said the kidnappers initially demanded N50 million for each captive before reducing their demand after negotiations with the families.

“Initially, they asked us to pay N50 million per head. We asked whether the amount was for all of them, but they insisted that no, it was for each person. Later, we started begging them to take N500,000. But they said no and started scaring us,” she said in Yoruba.

According to her, the kidnappers later demanded N15 million before settling on N6 million.

“Three days ago, they called and said we should pay N15 million. We kept begging them that all we had was ₦5.5 million. They said no and insisted on N6 million. So, it’s that N6 million we paid,” she said.

The mother said the kidnappers directed the parents to send representatives to Ibadan to arrange the payment before converting the money into dollars in Imo State.

“They called all the parents of all the victims. Twenty of them are in the bush. They then asked us to send three persons each to meet with them in Ibadan. My husband and my son’s elder brother went,” she said.

She added that her husband and the victim’s elder brother were among those who travelled to meet the abductors and deliver the ransom.

The experience, she said, left her physically unwell and unable to sleep.

“Since he was kidnapped, I have been stooling. I couldn’t sleep either. But I was relieved when I heard they had been released. It was as though the chains all over me were loosened,” she said.

Another parent says security agencies did not secure release

A parent who spoke anonymously to BBC News Yoruba also claimed that the ransom was paid in US dollars and that the families, rather than security agencies, secured the victims’ freedom through their financial contributions.

“Not a single person was responsible for securing the release of our children. The parents, alongside friends and support from people online, contributed money so that each parent could pay the amount demanded by the kidnappers,” the parent said.

The parent, however, acknowledged that the Department of State Services was involved in the investigation and alleged that the agency knew the families were arranging the ransom payment.

“The DSS was involved in rescue efforts and had invited parents to assist with investigations. The DSS was fully aware that we had converted money into U.S. dollars through a local currency exchanger (aboki) before delivering it to the kidnappers. It was a huge amount of money. The money was substantial,” the parent said.

Imo police maintain security pressure led to release

The Imo State Police Command has denied knowing about any ransom payment for the 20 prospective corps members and another victim who was reportedly released.

The Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, told Channels Television that the kidnappers abandoned their captives after security operatives intensified their search-and-rescue operations.

“The kidnappers eventually succumbed to pressure from security agencies, which combed the forest in a sustained rescue operation,” Bosso said.

He maintained that tactical teams forced the abductors to flee, allowing the victims to regain their freedom.

The police account is consistent with the earlier statement issued by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, who announced that the victims had been rescued at Amakohia Ubi Village in Imo State on October 7.

The statement said: “The Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with sister security agencies, has rescued the 20 prospective NYSC corps members abducted in Imo State on 1st October 2026. The victims were rescued on 7th October 2026 at Amakohia Ubi Village, Imo State, following sustained search-and-rescue operations. They have since been taken for medical assessment and necessary care.”

The police added that operations were continuing to identify, track and prosecute the suspects behind the abduction.

Victims were abducted on journey to NYSC camps

The prospective corps members were travelling in two buses on October 1 when they were ambushed at Ogbaku in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway.

They had departed Ibadan and were heading to NYSC orientation camps in Bende, Abia State, and Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The incident prompted concerns about the safety of young Nigerians travelling to participate in the national service programme.

One of the mothers said she would not allow her child to continue with the programme unless redeployed to a safer state, such as Oyo or Ogun. She indicated that she would consider withdrawing her child if the original posting remained unchanged.

The palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan also issued a statement confirming the safe return of the abducted prospective corps members.

Rescued youths taken to DSS headquarters

After their release, the 20 prospective corps members arrived in Ibadan on October 7 and were taken to the DSS headquarters in the Aleshinloye area of Ibadan South-West Local Government Area for debriefing.

At the time of reporting, only representatives of the victims’ parents had been allowed access to the premises, while other relatives and sympathisers waited outside.

The parents’ accounts have raised questions about whether ransom payments contributed to the release, while the police maintain that sustained pressure from security agencies forced the kidnappers to abandon their victims.

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