The parents of one of the 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State have confirmed that the ₦6 million their family contributed as ransom has been refunded.

Alirat Wahab had earlier disclosed in an interview with News Central that her family paid ₦6 million to secure her son’s release after he was abducted alongside 19 other prospective corps members along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway on October 1.

However, in a follow-up interview, her husband, Obasanjo Wahab, said the money had been returned to the affected families.

He said the families could not confirm whether the representatives sent to negotiate with the kidnappers eventually paid the ransom.

“The money has been returned. We just want to thank Imo for a job well done,” Obasanjo said.

He explained that representatives from the affected families had been selected to handle negotiations and seek the release of the victims.

According to him, the kidnappers had demanded that the representatives bring the ransom but eventually released the victims after they could no longer hold them captive.

Obasanjo, however, did not disclose who refunded the money or explain the circumstances surrounding the refunds.

He urged the families and the public to move on from the incident and appreciate the Imo State Government for its role in securing the victims’ release.

Alirat also confirmed that the money had been returned to the representatives who acted on behalf of the affected families, adding that all parents had received their contributions back.

The 20 prospective corps members were abducted on October 1 when gunmen attacked two 18-seater buses conveying passengers from Ibadan, Oyo State, to Anambra State.

The kidnappers initially demanded ₦1 billion from the victims’ families before reportedly reducing the ransom to ₦5 million per person, amounting to ₦100 million for all 20 victims.

On Wednesday, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force, Anietie Iniedu, announced that the victims had been rescued after seven days in captivity.

The police said the operation involved personnel from the Department of State Services (DSS), the military and the police.

According to the police, the victims were rescued in Amakohia Ubi village, Imo State.