The victims and some of their parents were granted access to the DSS office, while others waited outside, according to findings by The PUNCH.
One of the parents, Mrs Faith Felicia Abiala, expressed relief after reuniting with her daughter, describing the experience as traumatic and calling on the Federal Government to improve security arrangements for graduates travelling to their states of deployment.
Speaking in Ibadan on Thursday, Abiala urged the government to provide adequate security for prospective corps members travelling to orientation camps or consider air transportation to reduce their exposure to dangerous road journeys.
“My advice to the government is that when corps members are posted to states for their service, the government should ensure proper security arrangements, or allow them to travel by air to avoid these kinds of dangerous road journeys,” she said.
Recounting the emotional toll of the abduction, she said she had been devastated when her daughter was taken but was grateful to have her back alive.
“I cannot recount all the tears and sorrow, but I give thanks to God that I am seeing her alive today. On the day she was taken, I was so devastated I couldn’t even eat, but today my heart is filled with joy,” she said.
Abiala also commended DSS personnel and security teams from Oyo and Imo states for their efforts in securing the victims’ release.
Another rescued prospective corps member, whose identity was withheld, broke down in tears upon seeing her parents, describing the ordeal as “a horrible experience”.
Similarly, Alhaja Alimot Akande, the mother of another victim, described the release as a huge relief after days of uncertainty and anxiety.
“It is good news! Good news! Good news!” she exclaimed, adding that she had finally been able to sleep peacefully after learning of the victims’ release.
The 20 prospective corps members were among 30 graduates travelling from Oyo State to orientation camps in Abia State when they were abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State. The remaining 10 reportedly escaped from their abductors through the bush.
The victims regained their freedom seven days after the incident.
The abduction sparked concern among their families, who had appealed for assistance from traditional rulers and security authorities.
Reports indicated that the kidnappers initially demanded N50m for each victim, amounting to N1bn, before reducing the demand to N5m per person, or N100m in total.
The Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, Isiah Akpan, confirmed the ransom demands to The PUNCH on Friday.
Some parents also disclosed on Thursday that they had paid ransom in dollars before their children were released.
However, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, said the kidnappers had yielded to pressure from security agencies, which conducted searches in the surrounding forests during the rescue operation. He added that he was unaware of any ransom payment.
Before the victims’ release, their parents had sought intervention from the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at his private residence in Ibadan on Saturday. The state Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri, were also present.
Announcing the development on Wednesday, the Olubadan said in a statement issued by his media aide, Adeola Oloko, that the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, had confirmed the victims’ release during a telephone conversation at about 5pm.
The reunion has brought relief to the affected families, while renewed calls for improved security for prospective corps members travelling to orientation camps have emerged following the incident.
