The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, told Channels Television on Thursday, 8 October 2026, that he is not aware of any ransom being paid to secure the release of the 20 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and another abducted victim. His denial came after a family member publicly claimed that a sum of N6 million had been handed over to the kidnappers. The contrast between the claim and the official statement has kept the “nysc ransom” narrative in the headlines, while the police focus remains on the operation that freed the corps members from the Amakohia‑Ubi forest in Owerri West Local Government Area.
Police say kidnappers gave up under pressure
Bosso explained that security operatives intensified their search after the corps members were taken on 1 October while travelling from Ibadan to their orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom. Teams from the police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other agencies swept the forested terrain, following tracks and using aerial assets to locate the hideout. He said the pressure applied by the coordinated operation forced the abductors to release the hostages.
“The victims regained their freedom after security operatives intensified their search and mounted pressure on the kidnappers in the forest,” Bosso said. He added that drone surveillance helped locate the kidnappers’ hideout, although the area was later found to be rigged with improvised explosive devices, complicating the rescue. The presence of IEDs meant that ground teams had to proceed with extreme caution, calling in bomb disposal units before any direct contact could be made.
Details of the abduction and rescue
The 20 corps members and a fourth individual were snatched on the morning of 1 October as they headed to their NYSC orientation camps. The abduction occurred on a major highway linking Ibadan in Oyo State with the eastern states where the service year begins. According to early reports, the kidnappers demanded N50 million per victim, a figure that quickly circulated in media reports and added pressure on families desperate for their loved ones’ safe return.
A relative of one of the freed corps members later asserted that N6 million had been paid to secure his son’s release, a claim Bosso declined to confirm. In the interview, Bosso said he was unaware of any payment and that no official record of a ransom transaction existed. The police therefore maintained that the release resulted from the sustained security effort rather than a financial settlement.
Following the abduction, security agencies launched a coordinated search‑and‑rescue operation. Police announced the rescue of the first ten victims a few days later, while the hunt continued for the remaining group. On Wednesday, the operation culminated in the safe recovery of all 20 corps members and the additional abducted individual from the forest.
After being freed, the victims were taken to a DSS office for debriefing and medical attention. The DSS facility in Owerri provided first‑aid, basic health checks and counselling to address any trauma experienced during the ordeal. Families were later reunited with their loved ones in Owerri, and the rescued corps members received further medical examinations before being sent home.
Context and implications
Kidnapping for ransom has become a recurring challenge in several parts of Nigeria, prompting frequent deployments of security forces to forested and remote areas where criminals hide. The practice often targets groups on the move, such as traders, pilgrims and, increasingly, NYSC members who travel long distances shortly after their induction. The NYSC scheme, launched in 1973, aims to promote national unity by assigning graduates to states other than their own for a year of service. While the program has contributed to social cohesion, its participants are sometimes forced to use routes that lack adequate security coverage, especially during the first weeks of deployment.
The use of drones and other surveillance tools in this operation reflects a growing reliance on technology to locate hideouts. Over the past few years, Nigerian security agencies have invested in unmanned aerial systems to overcome the dense vegetation that often conceals kidnappers’ camps. The discovery of improvised explosive devices in the Amakohia‑Ubi forest show the lengths to which perpetrators will go to deter rescue attempts, raising the stakes for any future operations in similar terrain.
The Imo State police’s denial of any ransom payment aligns with a broader effort by authorities to discourage the practice of paying kidnappers. Government policy repeatedly emphasizes that yielding to ransom demands fuels the criminal market and encourages more abductions. Nevertheless, families of victims frequently face intense pressure to negotiate, and claims of payment can quickly spread, shaping public perception and sometimes complicating official narratives.
The incident also highlights the vulnerability of NYSC members, who, despite being young and generally healthy, can become easy targets when travelling in convoy without adequate protection. Some states have responded by deploying additional police escorts for NYSC convoys, but resource constraints and the sheer number of corps members, often tens of thousands each year, make comprehensive coverage difficult.
Next steps
Bosso said the police will continue to investigate the case to identify all individuals involved in the kidnapping. He emphasized that security agencies remain on high alert in the region and will maintain patrols around forested zones known to harbor criminal elements. No further statements were made regarding possible legal action against the kidnappers, but the ongoing inquiry is expected to lead to arrests once suspects are located.
The rescued corps members are expected to resume their service after completing medical check‑ups and receiving any necessary follow‑up care. Families are being briefed on support services available to them, including counselling and possible financial assistance, though the state government has not yet announced any compensation or additional security measures for future NYSC convoys.
As the investigation proceeds, authorities have urged the public to report any suspicious activity in forested areas and to cooperate with law enforcement efforts aimed at curbing the tide of ransom‑driven kidnappings across the country.
