Twenty prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who were rescued from kidnappers in Imo State have reunited with their families in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, after spending seven days in captivity.
The victims were reunited with their families on Thursday following more than three hours of engagement with officials of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The 20 prospective corps members were among 30 graduates travelling from Oyo State to orientation camps in Abia State when they were abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State. The remaining ten reportedly escaped through the bush.
One of the victims’ mothers, Mrs Faith Felicia Abiala, described her daughter’s safe return as a moment of overwhelming relief, urging the Federal Government to strengthen security arrangements for prospective corps members travelling to their states of deployment.
Abiala also suggested that the government consider air transportation for corps members to reduce the risks associated with long-distance road journeys.
She said the incident had subjected families to days of fear, tears and uncertainty, expressing gratitude to God and security personnel for the safe return of the victims.
Another mother, Alhaja Alimot Akande, described the reunion as a major relief, saying the news of the victims’ release had finally allowed their families to sleep peacefully after days of anguish.
One of the rescued victims, who requested anonymity, broke down in tears upon sighting her parents, describing the experience as horrible.
Meanwhile, reports indicated that the kidnappers initially demanded 50 million naira for each victim, amounting to one billion naira, before allegedly reducing the ransom to five million naira per person, totalling 100 million naira.
Some parents reportedly disclosed that they paid ransom in dollars before their children were released.
However, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, said the kidnappers yielded to pressure from security agencies, which combed the forest during a rescue operation. He added that he was not aware of any ransom payment.
The rescue and reunion have renewed calls for improved security measures to protect prospective corps members travelling to orientation camps across the country.
