On October 7, 2026, twenty prospective NYSC corps members who had been seized on October 1 in Imo State were freed after their families paid hefty ransoms ranging from N3 million to N6 million. The payments, made in both naira and U.S. dollars, were organised by parents who gathered in Ibadan and sent representatives to meet the kidnappers, directly challenging the official narrative of a police‑led rescue.
**Key facts**
- The abduction occurred at Ogbaku in Mbaitoli LGA, Imo State, while the youths travelled from Ibadan to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom.
- Ransom demands started at N50 million per person, later reduced to N6 million, which families ultimately paid.
- One mother disclosed she scrambled to raise N3 million, while another father said a collective effort in Ibadan produced N6 million.
- Parents reported that the kidnappers required the money to be converted into dollars before delivery.
- A parent speaking to BBC News Yoruba denied any involvement by security agencies in the release, insisting the ransom was the decisive factor.
What ransom amounts were paid?
Several relatives confirmed different sums. One mother said, “I paid as much as ₦3 million as ransom while I was hoping that nothing happened to my child.” Another father explained, “We had to converge somewhere in Ibadan to put the money together… we ended up sending N6 million.”
How did the negotiations unfold?
Initially, the abductors demanded N50 million per head. After families pleaded for a lower figure, the kidnappers refused a half‑million offer and later settled on N15 million, which was again rejected. Ultimately, the captors accepted N6 million, which the parents delivered via an account and later converted to dollars in Imo State.
What did the police claim?
The [Nigeria Police Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria_Police_Force) issued a statement saying a joint security operation rescued the youths at Amakohia Ubi Village on October 7. CSP Ani Iniedu, the force’s public relations officer, asserted that the victims were recovered after sustained search‑and‑rescue efforts and were taken for medical assessment.
Did the Department of State Services (DSS) play a role?
According to a parent interviewed by BBC News Yoruba, the DSS was aware of the ransom process and had invited parents to assist with investigations. The parent claimed the money was converted to U.S. dollars through a local exchanger before being handed over to the kidnappers.
How did local authorities respond to the ransom allegations?
The commissioner of the [Imo State Police Command](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imo_State), Audu Bosso, denied any knowledge of ransom payments, insisting that pressure from security agencies forced the abductors to release the victims. He maintained that the gang collapsed under sustained police operations.
What happened after the release?
The freed corps members arrived in Ibadan and were taken to the headquarters of the Department of State Services for debriefing. Only parents’ representatives were allowed inside the DSS facility, while other relatives waited outside.
The ordeal left many families traumatized, with one mother describing sleeplessness and physical distress after her son’s kidnapping. Another parent warned that their child would withdraw from the NYSC programme unless redeployed to a safer state such as Oyo or Ogun.
The palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan later issued a statement confirming the safe return of the youths.