The mother of a prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member abducted on the Owerri-Onitsha expressway has said her family paid N6 million to secure his release, while police attributed the victims’ freedom to a joint security operation
The woman, whose name was not disclosed, told News Central Television on Wednesday that the kidnappers initially demanded N50 million for each victim before accepting N6 million for her son.
Her account came as the Nigeria Police Force announced that security operatives had rescued 20 abducted NYSC members in Imo State.
Speaking in Yoruba, the mother described how the family pleaded with the abductors to reduce their demand.
“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.
“Three days ago, they called and said we should pay N15 million. We kept begging them that all we had was N5.5 million. They said no and insisted on N6 million. So, it’s that N6 million we paid.”
She said the abductors contacted the victims’ parents and directed them to send representatives to a meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to her, her husband and the victim’s elder brother went to the meeting.
“When they got to the meeting place, they asked them to send the money to an account and that when they got to Imo state, they should change the money into dollars,” she said.
The woman said her elder son was among those who took the ransom to the kidnappers and later called to confirm his brother’s release.
“It was the brother who called us this evening to say that they had handed the ransom to the kidnappers and that they had released our son. We also spoke to the boy,” she said.
She said her son’s captivity left her unable to sleep and caused her considerable distress.
“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.
The victims were abducted on October 1 when gunmen attacked two 18-seater buses carrying passengers from Ibadan along the Owerri-Onitsha expressway.
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