The 20 prospective corps members recently released by suspected kidnappers in Imo State have reportedly been offered the opportunity to choose any of the six South-West states for the continuation of their National Youth Service Corps programme.
A parent of one of the survivors, who spoke to journalists on Friday on condition of anonymity, said the released graduates had been given the option of selecting their preferred states for redeployment within the current service batch.
The parent also disclosed that families paid ₦6 million in ransom for each of the abducted graduates to secure their release.
Another survivor’s relative, identified as Joy Zainab, confirmed that family members and well-wishers contributed financially towards the ransom.
She expressed gratitude to everyone who offered prayers, shared information about the abduction and provided financial assistance.
The revelations corroborate an earlier account by Alirat Wahab, the mother of another survivor, who disclosed that the kidnappers initially demanded ₦50 million for each captive before eventually accepting ₦6 million per person.
According to Wahab, the kidnappers reduced their demand to ₦15 million before agreeing to the final amount following repeated appeals by the families.
She explained that relatives and other well-meaning Nigerians contributed funds to meet the demand.
Wahab further disclosed that the kidnappers directed the families to send representatives to Ibadan, Oyo State, where her husband and son met an intermediary.
The ransom was subsequently transferred into a designated account, while the representatives were instructed to convert the money into United States dollars upon arrival in Imo State.
The 20 prospective corps members were abducted on October 1 along the Owerri-Onitsha Road, near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
They were travelling in two commercial buses operated by Uko Akwa Ibom Motors and were reportedly heading to Abia and Akwa Ibom states when the incident occurred.
The kidnappers subsequently demanded ₦50 million for each of the abducted graduates.
On Wednesday, the police announced that the victims had been rescued at Amakohia Ubi Village in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.
However, the families disputed the police account of the rescue, insisting that ransom payments were made to secure the victims’ freedom.
Meanwhile, the mother of another survivor reportedly said she and her daughter had been hospitalised following the incident.
