Mother Pays ₦6m Ransom to Secure Son’s Release from Kidnappers

The mother of one of the freed prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway says she paid ₦6 million ransom to secure her son’s release.

The victims were reportedly abducted on October 1 after gunmen attacked two 18-seater buses travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State.

Speaking with newsmen, the woman said the kidnappers initially demanded ₦50 million for each victim before eventually agreeing to accept ₦6 million for her son.

She said the abductors instructed parents to send representatives to meet them in Ibadan and arrange payment. According to her, her husband and elder son went to the meeting, where they were directed to transfer the ransom and later convert the money to dollars after reaching Imo State.

The mother said she was eventually informed that the ransom had been delivered and her son released. She described the period of his captivity as traumatic, saying she could not sleep and suffered severe emotional distress until she received confirmation of his release.