Freed NYSC Members' Parents Say ₦6m Ransom Was Returned, but Don't Know Who Paid It Back
A joint military, DSS and police operation freed the 20 abducted corps members; questions remain over a ransom paid during negotiations.
Security Forces Rescue 20 Abducted NYSC Members in Imo After Ransom Demand Fell From ₦50m to ₦5m Each
Photo: Legit.ng
A joint operation involving the military, DSS and police has rescued 20 prospective NYSC members and one civilian in Imo State. Gunmen had attacked two buses carrying the graduates from Ibadan to their NYSC camps on the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha. The victims are receiving medical care at a DSS facility.
The kidnappers had reportedly demanded ₦50 million per victim, ₦1 billion in total. According to Vanguard, as cited in an earlier roundup, the captors later cut the demand to ₦5 million per victim and had been beating the victims. Kehinde's sister, Alhaja Alimot Akande, called the situation "horrible, scary and overwhelming."
It is unclear whether a ransom was paid. Ten others escaped during the initial attack.
Sources: NaijaNews headlines roundup, 8 Oct 2026 · NaijaNews headlines roundup, 5 Oct 2026
