The 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who were abducted in Imo State have reportedly been offered the opportunity to continue their national service in any of the six South-West states following their release.

A parent of one of the freed graduates said the survivors had been allowed to choose their preferred states for their service under the current NYSC batch.

The development comes as families of the victims disclosed that they paid ₦6m per person to secure their release, despite the abductors initially demanding ₦50m for each captive.

One of the mothers, Alirat Wahab, said the kidnappers later reduced the demand to ₦15m before eventually accepting ₦6m after negotiations and appeals by the family. She said relatives and other well-wishers helped raise the money.

The prospective corps members were abducted on October 1 while travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their orientation camps. Gunmen reportedly attacked two buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State.

The victims spent about seven days in captivity before their release was announced on October 7. The police said the operation that secured their freedom involved personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, the military and the Department of State Services. The freed victims were taken for medical assessment and necessary care.

However, accounts from the families raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the release, with relatives saying ransom payments were made while the police attributed the victims’ freedom to a coordinated security operation. The police commissioner was reported to have said he was unaware of the ransom payment.