Corps Members’ Abduction: Families Reveal How They Paid N3m, N6m Ransoms
Families of rescued National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State have revealed how they raised millions of naira to secure the release of their loved ones.
The relatives said they paid ransoms of N3 million and N6 million to the kidnappers before the corps members were eventually rescued by security agencies.
The abducted corps members and another hostage were rescued on Wednesday in a joint operation involving the military and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Speaking to News Central Television, the mother of one of the rescued corps members said she paid N3 million after making frantic efforts to raise the money.
“I paid as much as N3 million as ransom while I was hoping that nothing happened to my child. I ran helter-skelter to raise the money. I eventually got the money and sent someone to Imo State to deliver the ransom,” she said.
The father of another rescued corps member disclosed that his family paid N6 million for his son’s release.
According to him, relatives and friends gathered in Ibadan, Oyo State, to raise the money, with some of the funds converted to dollars before being sent to Imo State for delivery.
“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.
While expressing relief over his son’s rescue, the farmer lamented the financial burden created by the ransom payment.
“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 said.
The families’ accounts have renewed concerns over the heavy financial burden kidnapping places on victims’ relatives, even after successful rescue operations.
The relatives said they paid ransoms of N3 million and N6 million to the kidnappers before the corps members were eventually rescued by security agencies.
The abducted corps members and another hostage were rescued on Wednesday in a joint operation involving the military and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Speaking to News Central Television, the mother of one of the rescued corps members said she paid N3 million after making frantic efforts to raise the money.
“I paid as much as N3 million as ransom while I was hoping that nothing happened to my child. I ran helter-skelter to raise the money. I eventually got the money and sent someone to Imo State to deliver the ransom,” she said.
The father of another rescued corps member disclosed that his family paid N6 million for his son’s release.
According to him, relatives and friends gathered in Ibadan, Oyo State, to raise the money, with some of the funds converted to dollars before being sent to Imo State for delivery.
“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.
While expressing relief over his son’s rescue, the farmer lamented the financial burden created by the ransom payment.
“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 said.
The families’ accounts have renewed concerns over the heavy financial burden kidnapping places on victims’ relatives, even after successful rescue operations.
