The 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who were released after being abducted in Imo State have reportedly been given the option of continuing their national service in any of the six South-West states.
A parent of one of the survivors disclosed this to Saturday PUNCH, saying the freed graduates could select their preferred states and continue their service with the current NYSC batch.
“They have been given the opportunity to choose states in the South-West to continue their service with the current batch,” the parent said.
The reported arrangement follows the abduction of the graduates while they were travelling through Imo State on October 1.
Families say N6m ransom was paid per victim
Families of the released graduates have alleged that they paid N6 million for each captive to secure their freedom.
One parent said the families eventually agreed to the payment after negotiations with the kidnappers.
“As for the ransom, we eventually paid N6m each, but we wanted them freed before disclosing that,” the parent said.
Joy Zainab, a relative of another survivor, also confirmed that family members and well-wishers contributed towards the ransom.
She expressed relief over the victim’s release and thanked those who offered prayers, publicised the abduction and provided financial assistance.
The accounts are consistent with an earlier statement by Alirat Wahab, the mother of another victim, who said the kidnappers initially demanded N50 million per person before reducing the amount.
According to Wahab, the demand was subsequently lowered to N15 million before the kidnappers eventually agreed to accept N6 million.
She said relatives and other well-wishers contributed money to meet the demand.
Wahab also described how family representatives were directed to travel to Ibadan, Oyo State, to meet an intermediary. She said the money was transferred into a designated account, with further instructions given concerning its conversion into US dollars.
Graduates were abducted while travelling
The 20 prospective corps members were reportedly kidnapped 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 towards Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The kidnappers allegedly demanded N50 million for each captive.
On Wednesday, the police announced that the graduates had been rescued at Amakohia Ubi Village in Owerri West Local Government Area.
However, the victims’ families disputed the police account, insisting that ransom payments were made to secure the graduates’ release.
Families recount emotional toll
The incident has also taken a toll on the health of some relatives.
The mother of another survivor said she and her daughter had been hospitalised following the ordeal.
“Both of us are in the hospital. We are receiving drips and treatment. My blood pressure shot up over this incident,” she said.
The reported offer of alternative postings in the South-West would allow the freed graduates to continue their national service closer to their preferred locations while they recover from the experience.
The NYSC had not been quoted in the supplied report as officially confirming the reported posting arrangement.
