Mother narrates how N6m ransom was raised for abducted corps member

The mother of one of the 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted in Imo State, Alirat Wahab, has narrated how her family raised N6m allegedly demanded by kidnappers for her son’s release.

Wahab said the abductors initially demanded N50m for each victim but later reduced the amount following pleas from the parents. She disclosed this in interviews with News Central after the victims were released.

According to her, the kidnappers initially insisted on N50m per victim before agreeing to reduce the demand to N5m. However, they later increased it to N15m.

She said the family continued negotiating with the abductors and eventually agreed on N6m, despite initially having only about N5.5m available.

Wahab explained that the family had to seek help from relatives, friends and other individuals to raise the money. Some contributors reportedly gave N20,000, N50,000 and other amounts, while the family also borrowed money to complete the ransom.

She said representatives of the families were instructed to travel to Imo State with the money and convert it to dollars before handing it over.

The mother said the money was eventually raised through the combined efforts of family members and well-wishers.

However, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Bosso, said he was not aware of any ransom payment, insisting that security agencies rescued the victims after sustained pressure on the abductors.

The 20 prospective corps members were abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road on October 1 and were later rescued from the Amokohia Uwe Forest in Imo State.