NYSC Offers 20 Freed Abducted Graduates South-West Posting Option

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has reportedly offered 20 prospective corps members freed after their abduction in Imo State the opportunity to choose their preferred South-West states for national service.

The graduates were abducted on October 1 along the Owerri-Onitsha Road near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area while travelling in two commercial buses operated by Uko Akwa Ibom Motors.

According to Punch, the released graduates can continue their service with the current batch in any of the six South-West states under the reported arrangement.

A parent of one of the victims confirmed the development, saying the scheme had given the survivors the option to select their preferred destinations.

The reported posting adjustment followed claims by victims’ families that ransom payments secured their relatives’ release, despite the police announcing that security operatives had rescued the abductees. One of the parents disclosed that the families paid ₦6m per victim, although the kidnappers initially demanded ₦50m for each captive. 

Alirat Wahab, the mother of another victim, said the kidnappers reduced their demand to ₦15m before accepting ₦6m after negotiations. She explained that the family sent representatives to Ibadan, where an intermediary facilitated the negotiations.

Other accounts indicated that some families raised between ₦3m and ₦6m, alongside additional charges reportedly demanded during the process. Joy Zainab, a relative of one of the freed graduates, confirmed the survivor’s return home and expressed gratitude to those who contributed financially, offered prayers and publicised the abduction.

The graduates were reportedly travelling towards Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen intercepted their buses.

Although the police announced their rescue on Wednesday, the families maintained that ransom payments played a decisive role in securing their freedom. The NYSC had yet to officially confirm the reported South-West posting arrangement as of the time of filing this report.

By Musekir Faisat Omolara