Parents of the 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway have revealed a surprising development concerning the ransom money raised to secure their children’s release.
The parents disclosed that the money contributed by families to secure the victims’ freedom had been refunded, raising fresh questions about what happened behind the scenes before the corps members regained their freedom.
Obasanjo and Alirat Wahab, parents of one of the abducted prospective corps members, confirmed that their family had received a refund of the money contributed towards the ransom.
However, they could not establish whether the kidnappers had received any payment or identify the individuals responsible for returning the money.
The development has sparked questions about the circumstances surrounding the release of the victims and the eventual fate of the ransom contributions.
Mother Reveals N6 Million Payment
Speaking after her son regained his freedom, Alirat Wahab told News Central that her family had paid N6 million in an effort to secure his release.
Her account suggested that the family had contributed more than the reported N5 million ransom demand per victim.
However, in a subsequent interview, Obasanjo said he could not confirm whether the representatives sent by the families had successfully delivered the money to the kidnappers.
He maintained that the contributions had been returned, including the N6 million reportedly paid by his household.
Despite the refund, he did not disclose who returned the money or explain the circumstances surrounding the transaction.
What Happened Before Their Release?
Recounting the efforts made by the families, Obasanjo said representatives had been sent to seek the release of the abducted corps members.
“They went to look for the kidnapped corps members to see whether they would be freed or not,” he said.
According to him, the kidnappers had initially requested that representatives bring the ransom before the situation changed and the victims were released.
“The kidnappers had asked for representatives to bring the ransom. Since they could no longer hold the corps members hostage, they let them go,” he added.
However, his explanation did not establish whether negotiations had been concluded, whether any ransom had been paid, or whether the intensified security operation forced the kidnappers to abandon their demands.
How The Abduction Happened
The 20 prospective corps members were reportedly abducted on October 1 when gunmen attacked two 18-seater buses conveying passengers from Ibadan, Oyo State, towards Anambra State.
The incident occurred along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway, leaving families scrambling to secure the safe return of their loved ones.
The kidnappers reportedly demanded N1 billion before reducing the amount to N5 million per victim, bringing the total ransom demand to N100 million.
The victims remained in captivity for seven days before the Nigeria Police Force announced their rescue on Wednesday.
According to the police, the operation involved a joint security team comprising police officers, Department of State Services personnel and military operatives.
The prospective corps members were reportedly rescued in Amakohia Ubi village in Imo State.
Parents Thank Imo Government
Despite the unanswered questions surrounding the ransom money, the parents expressed gratitude to the Imo State Government for its intervention.
When asked to provide further details about the ransom and the events leading to the release, Obasanjo declined to elaborate, urging the public to move on from the incident.
“You know what, let’s forget the matter and just appeal to the Imo State Government. We should be grateful to them,” he said.
“The money has been returned. We just want to thank Imo for a job well done.”
While the families have expressed relief over their children’s safe return, questions remain about whether any ransom was paid, who facilitated the refunds and what ultimately compelled the kidnappers to release the victims.
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