NYSC Members Rescued After Seven-Day Kidnapping

Twenty prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members were rescued after being held captive for seven days following their abduction on the Owerri-Onitsha road in Umunoha, Imo State. They were part of a group of 30 graduates traveling to orientation camps in Abia State when they were kidnapped.

Ten managed to escape during the attack, while the remaining 20 were held for ransom. Initially, the kidnappers demanded ₦50 million per victim, totaling ₦1 billion, which was later reduced to ₦5 million per person, amounting to ₦100 million.

The Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, Isiah Akpan, confirmed the ransom demand. The victims returned to Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, October 8, and were taken to the Department of State Services headquarters.

Their parents had sought help from traditional and security authorities, including a visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, who later confirmed the release of the graduates after a call from Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma.