Parents of abducted prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members have claimed that ₦50 million was paid to secure the release of their children, despite the police denying that any ransom was paid.

The development follows the abduction of 20 prospective corps members who were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their respective NYSC orientation camps when gunmen attacked two buses conveying them along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.

The parents had earlier raised the alarm over a reported ₦1 billion ransom demand, with the abductors allegedly requesting ₦50 million for each victim. The families appealed to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, and security agencies for urgent intervention to ensure the safe return of their children.

However, the police have denied that ransom was paid to secure the victims’ release, creating a discrepancy between the account attributed to the parents and the official position of the security authorities.

The incident has raised fresh concerns over the safety of prospective corps members travelling to orientation camps and the growing threat of kidnapping along major highways. Further clarification is needed from the parents and police regarding the circumstances surrounding the reported payment and the victims’ release.