Families of the 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State have reportedly paid millions of naira in ransom before their relatives were released.
The victims, who were travelling from Ibadan to Bende in Abia State and Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, were abducted on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Ogbaku in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
They were reportedly travelling in two buses when they were attacked and taken into captivity.
The victims were rescued on Wednesday, October 7, at Amakohia Ubi Village, Imo State, following sustained search-and-rescue operations by the police and other security agencies.
However, following their release, relatives of some of the victims disclosed that they had paid substantial sums of money to secure the release of their loved ones.
One of the mothers said her family paid ₦3 million after she struggled to raise the money and arranged for it to be delivered in Imo State.
The father of another victim told News Central Television that his family raised ₦6 million for the release of his son.
He said relatives converged in Ibadan, Oyo State, to raise the money, with some funds reportedly converted to dollars before being sent to Imo State for delivery.
While expressing relief over his son’s release, the father said the financial burden had left him worried about how to repay the money he borrowed, describing himself as a farmer.
Confirming the rescue, the Nigeria Police Force said the 20 prospective corps members were rescued through a coordinated operation involving the police and sister security agencies.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, said the victims had been taken for medical assessment and necessary care following their rescue.
The police also said efforts were ongoing to identify and apprehend the masterminds of the abduction, assuring that coordinated operations would continue until those responsible were brought to justice.
The Force commended members of the public for their cooperation and support during the rescue operation.
By Enitan Mudashiru | MUK TV News
