The 20 prospective corps members who regained freedom after being abducted in Imo State have reportedly been given the option of choosing any of the six South-West states for their national service.
A parent of one of the victims, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed this to Saturday PUNCH on Friday, adding that the graduates could continue their service with the current batch in their preferred states.
The parent also revealed that the families paid N6m ransom for each victim to secure their release, despite the initial demand of N50m per captive by the kidnappers.
Another relative, Joy Zainab, confirmed that family members and well-wishers contributed towards the ransom, expressing gratitude to those who supported the family financially and through prayers.
The account was corroborated by Alirat Wahab, the mother of another victim, who said the kidnappers initially demanded N50m per person before reducing the amount to N15m and eventually accepting N6m after negotiations with the families.
The victims were abducted on October 1 along the Owerri-Onitsha Road, near Umunoha in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, while travelling in two commercial buses operated by Uko Akwa Ibom Motors.
They were reportedly heading to Abia and Akwa Ibom states for their National Youth Service Corps orientation exercise.
The police announced their rescue on Wednesday at Amakohia Ubi Village in the Owerri West Local Government Area. However, the victims' families disputed the claim that security operations alone secured their freedom, insisting that ransom payments were made.
The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, said he was unaware of any ransom payment, while the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, attributed their release to joint search-and-rescue operations by security agencies.
Efforts to obtain confirmation from the NYSC spokesperson, Caroline Embu, on the reported South-West posting arrangement were unsuccessful as of press time.
The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of prospective corps members travelling across the country, with some parents and former corps members calling for the scrapping of the 53-year-old scheme or stronger security measures to protect participants.
