Parents of the 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway have disclosed that money contributed by their families to secure their release has been refunded.
The development has raised fresh questions about whether ransom was eventually paid to the kidnappers before the victims regained their freedom after seven days in captivity.
Obasanjo and Alirat Wahab, parents of one of the abducted prospective corps members, confirmed that the money contributed by their families had been returned. However, they could not establish whether the kidnappers received any payment or identify those responsible for refunding the money.
The parents expressed gratitude to the Imo State Government for its intervention, urging the public to focus on the successful rescue of the victims.
Families Receive Refunds After NYSC Members’ Rescue
Speaking after her son regained his freedom, Alirat Wahab told News Central that her family had contributed N6 million towards securing his release.
The amount was higher than the reported N5 million ransom demand per victim after the kidnappers allegedly reduced their initial demand.
However, in a subsequent interview, Obasanjo said he could not confirm whether the representatives sent by the families had successfully delivered the ransom to the abductors.
He maintained that the money raised by the families had been returned, including the N6 million reportedly contributed by his household.
Obasanjo did not disclose who facilitated the refunds or explain how the money was recovered. He also provided no details to establish whether negotiations with the kidnappers had resulted in payment before the victims were released.
Explaining the role of the representatives, he said they had gone to look for the abducted prospective corps members to determine whether they could be freed.
According to him, the kidnappers had requested that representatives bring the ransom before the situation changed and the victims were released.
“The kidnappers had asked for representatives to bring the ransom. Since they could no longer hold the corps members hostage, they let them go,” he said.
His account did not clarify whether the kidnappers abandoned their demands because of the joint security operation or whether any agreement had been reached before the rescue.
Parents Thank Imo State Government
When asked to provide further information about the ransom contributions and the circumstances surrounding the release, Obasanjo declined to elaborate.
Instead, he appealed to the public to put the incident behind them and appreciate the efforts of the Imo State Government.
“You know what, let’s forget the matter and just appeal to the Imo state government. We should be grateful to them,” he said.
“The money has been returned. We just want to thank Imo for a job well done.”
Despite the refunds, questions remain about the handling of the ransom contributions, including whether any money was paid to the kidnappers and who authorised or facilitated the return of the funds.
How 20 Prospective NYSC Members Were Abducted
The 20 prospective corps members were reportedly abducted on October 1, 2026, when gunmen attacked two 18-seater buses conveying passengers from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, towards Anambra State.
The incident occurred along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway, a major road connecting parts of the South-East with other parts of Nigeria.
Following the attack, the kidnappers reportedly demanded N1 billion from the victims’ families. The demand was subsequently reduced to N5 million per victim, bringing the reported total to N100 million for all 20 prospective corps members.
The families were left scrambling to raise the money while their loved ones remained in captivity.
Police Confirm Rescue After Seven Days in Captivity
On October 7, 2026, the Nigeria Police Force announced that the abducted prospective corps members had been rescued during a joint security operation involving police officers, the Department of State Services (DSS) and military personnel.
The operation reportedly led to their rescue in Amakohia Ubi village in Imo State, ending seven days of captivity.
The successful operation brought relief to the victims’ families, but uncertainty surrounding the ransom demand and the subsequent refunds has continued to attract attention.
While the parents have confirmed that their contributions were returned, they have not established whether ransom was paid before the release.
The circumstances surrounding the refunds and the role played by the kidnappers, security agencies and other representatives therefore remain unclear based on the available accounts.
For the families, however, the return of their loved ones and the refund of their contributions have provided an opportunity to move forward after days of fear and uncertainty.