By Chukwudi Obasi
Parents of some of the 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members kidnapped in Imo State have revealed that they paid millions of naira in ransom to secure their children’s release.
The revelations emerged on Thursday following the release of the 20 prospective corps members and another traveller abducted in the state, amid conflicting accounts over whether ransom was paid.
One of the parents, who spoke to News Central Television, said she raised N3 million after the kidnappers demanded money for her child’s release.
She said she struggled to raise the money and eventually sent someone to Imo State to deliver the ransom to those designated to receive it.
“I paid as much as N3 million as ransom while I was hoping that nothing happened to my child,” the mother said.
Another parent, a farmer whose son was among the abductees, disclosed that his family raised N6 million, partly through borrowing, to meet the kidnappers’ demands.
According to him, relatives converged in Ibadan, Oyo State, to raise the money, while some contributors converted their funds to dollars before arranging for the ransom to be delivered in Imo.
“We had to converge somewhere in Ibadan, Oyo State, to put the money together. Some of us even changed the money to dollars and sent it to Imo State to meet whoever was coming to pick it,” he said.
The farmer, however, expressed concern over how he would repay the N6 million borrowed during the ordeal, despite his relief that his son had regained his freedom.
“I am excited that my son is coming back. However, how do I repay the N6 million I borrowed? I’m just a farmer,” he lamented.
The revelations contrast with the position of the Imo State Police Command, which said it had no knowledge of any ransom payment.
The Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, told Channels Television on Thursday that the victims’ release followed sustained pressure mounted on the kidnappers by security operatives.
Bosso said the operation involved the military, police and Department of State Services (DSS), which mounted pressure on the abductors in the Amakohia-Ubi forest in Owerri West Local Government Area.
He maintained that the security operation was responsible for the victims’ freedom, without confirming any ransom payment by the families.
The commissioner also confirmed that the rescued victims were receiving attention at the DSS office in Owerri.
