The parents of some of the prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State have disclosed the financial burden they faced while trying to secure the safe return of their children.
The prospective corps members were among travellers attacked along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in the Umunoha area of Mbaitoli Local Government Area on October 1. They were travelling to different NYSC orientation camps when they were taken by gunmen.
Although the victims were eventually rescued after several days in captivity, some of their parents have now spoken about the payments made during the ordeal.
One of the parents disclosed that N3 million was raised and paid in an effort to secure the release of the abducted child. Another parent said his family paid N6 million after relatives came together to raise the money.
For the families involved, the financial demands came alongside the anxiety of not knowing whether their children were safe. One parent explained that he had to borrow money to meet the demand, leaving him with the difficult task of repaying the debt even after his child had returned safely.
The abducted prospective corps members were eventually freed on October 7 following a security operation involving government security agencies. They were subsequently taken to the DSS Hospital in Owerri for medical attention and assessment.
The rescue brought relief to the affected families after days of uncertainty, but the accounts of the parents highlight the financial pressure that accompanied the abduction.
Security agencies are continuing efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack, while the rescued prospective corps members undergo necessary care following their ordeal.
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