•Parents seek psychosocial support for victims
By Adeola Badru and Chidi Nkwopara
Parents of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members abducted en route to their orientation camps in Imo State have expressed profound relief following news of their release, though their joy remains shadowed by anxiety as they await direct contact with their children.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, confirmed the release yesterday afternoon during a telephone conversation between the monarch and the governor, as stated by Ladoja’s media aide, Adeola Oloko.
The Olubadan, who had closely monitored developments concerning the abducted prospective corps members, also expressed relief following the confirmation of their release.
However, family relations revealed that the released prospective corps members are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, as of press time, leaving parents unable to speak with or verify the physical condition of their children.
Parents speak
One of the affected parents and spokesperson for the families, Alimot Akande, confirmed the release in an interview with Vanguard yesterday, saying the development had brought considerable relief to families who had spent days in anguish over the fate of their children.
Akande, who has been at the forefront of efforts by the affected families to secure the release of the prospective corps members, said the parents were grateful that their children had regained their freedom, but stressed that the ordeal had taken a heavy emotional and financial toll on the families.
She said, “We are happy that they have been released. This is what every parent has been waiting and praying for. For days, we have been living in fear and uncertainty because we did not know what could happen to our children.
“Now that we have heard that they have been released, we thank God for preserving their lives. But our joy is not yet complete because we have not been able to speak with them ourselves.“
“What we have heard is that they are still with the DSS. So, we are waiting for the authorities to allow us have contact with them and, most importantly, to reunite them with their families.”
Akande, however, said the release did not come without a financial burden, explaining that the individual families had to make separate arrangements after the abductors communicated their ransom demands.
“The release did not come for free. The individual parents were responsible for the release in their separate ways because the abductors had given their words on the amount of ransom involved.
“Each family had to find a way of dealing with its own situation. We were all desperate to see our children come back alive, and that was the priority for every parent.
“No government gave us anything to support the families towards the release of our children. We had to do what we could as individual families.“
“Everybody was looking for a way to bring their child back safely. It was not an easy thing for any of us, but we were prepared to do whatever was necessary within our means to ensure that our children returned alive,” she said.
According to her, the families had endured sleepless nights and emotional distress throughout the period of the abduction, particularly because they were constantly uncertain about the condition of their children.
“The psychological trauma has been enormous. Imagine having your child travelling to report for NYSC and then you suddenly hear that the vehicle they were travelling in had been attacked and the occupants abducted.“
“You cannot sleep properly. You cannot eat properly. You are constantly thinking about where your child is, and whether the child is still alive.“
“We have parents who have been under tremendous pressure. Some had to look for money to meet the demands made by the abductors.
“Now that they have been released, our appeal is that the government and security agencies should ensure that these children are properly attended to.
“They need medical attention, psychological support and every necessary assistance because they have gone through a traumatic experience. They should not simply be released and left to deal with the experience on their own.
“These are young Nigerians who were simply going to serve their country. They should not be exposed to this kind of danger while travelling to their orientation camps.
“We hope that the authorities will learn from what has happened and put measures in place to prevent a recurrence. The safety of prospective corps members should be taken seriously,” she said.
One of the affected parents, Mr Femi Adewale, 53, a public servant and father of Feyisayo, one of the abducted prospective corps members, also expressed relief over the development.
Adewale said, “We are very happy and relieved that our children have been released. It has been a very difficult period for us as parents because we did not know what would happen to them.
“The most important thing for us now is to see our children, speak with them and know that they are safe. We thank God for preserving their lives.”
Similarly, Mrs Sade Oyeyemi, whose only daughter, Kemisola, was among those abducted, said the confirmation of the release had brought immense relief to her family after days of intense anxiety.
Oyeyemi said, “I am very happy that she has been released. As a mother, especially when the child involved is your only daughter, you cannot explain the kind of fear and pain you go through when you do not know where she is or what is happening to her.
“We have been praying and hoping that they would be released alive. Now that we have heard that they have been released, we are grateful to God. We only want to see her, hear her voice and know that she is truly safe.”
A 55-year-old mother, Janet Oladosu, another affected parent, also expressed gratitude over the development, saying the confirmation had brought relief after days of fear and sleepless nights.
Oladosu said, “The news of their release is a great relief to us. We have been living in fear and praying for our children. Nobody wants to hear that their child has been abducted, especially when the child was simply travelling to begin the National Youth Service.
“We thank God that they are alive and have been released. What we need now is for them to be brought back safely to their families.”
Meanwhile, the rescued victims are currently receiving medical attention at a DSS facility, according to security sources, while efforts are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the abduction and apprehend any remaining suspects.
Similarly, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, is presently at the DSS Clinic in Owerri addressing the rescued victims.
The source said: “The NYSC-DG is in the company of the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Director DSS and Brigade Commander, 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Imo State.”
Uzodimma reacts
Reacting, Governor Uzodimma applauded the security agencies for their quick intervention in securing the release of the 20 corps members kidnapped along the Onitsha-Owerri Road a few days ago.
Uzodimma also expressed satisfaction with the collaborative efforts of both the Oyo and Imo State Governments towards the quick release of all 20 captives.
He said he was particularly pleased with the security agencies for their sound collaboration and patriotism in ensuring that the corps members were rescued unharmed.
Uzodimma said that “since the issue involved the security of lives, the government was cautious about releasing too much information to the public, hence the discreet manner in which it was handled.”
While saying that he “is particularly grateful to the security agencies for the discreet and collaborative manner in which they tackled the challenge, the Governor equally praised the parents for “their patience during the trying period and urged Nigerians to always have faith in the Federal Government to overcome the current security challenges in the country.
Police confirm rescue
Confirming the rescue, the police in a statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, said the victims were rescued following sustained search-and-rescue operations and have since been taken for medical assessment and necessary care.
It reads, ‘”he Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with sister security agencies, has rescued the 20 prospective NYSC corps members abducted in Imo State on 1st October 2026.
“The victims were rescued on 7th October 2026 at Amakohia Ubi Village, Imo State, following sustained search-and-rescue operations. They have since been taken for medical assessment and necessary care.
“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend those responsible for the abduction, as the Police and other security agencies sustain coordinated operations towards bringing all culpable persons to justice.”
