Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, says he is unaware of any ransom payment for the release of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members and a civilian abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road.
Speaking to Channels Television on Thursday, Bosso said sustained pressure from a joint security operation forced the kidnappers to release the victims, who were abducted on October 1 and rescued from Amokohia Uwe Forest, Owerri West LGA.
He said the operation involved the police, Army, Navy, Air Force, DSS and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, which combed the forest and surrounding areas based on intelligence.
Asked if ransom was paid, Bosso said: “To my knowledge, no. I am not aware whether a ransom was paid, but we did what we were supposed to do as professionals, and that’s how we got them.”
The victims, who were receiving medical attention at the DSS hospital, were expected to be handed over to the NYSC Director-General. Bosso added that security operatives were still searching for the perpetrators.
His comments came after the mother of one of the victims, Alirat Wahab, claimed the kidnappers demanded N50 million per victim before reducing the amount, saying her family and others raised N6 million allegedly demanded for her son’s release.
