*** We paid N6m each in dollars to secure release of 20 victims – Mother

*** As Security agencies lay claim to rescue of kidnapped victims

By Udoka Immaculate

There are conflicting reports both from emanating from parests of the victims of NYSC members who were kidnapped in Imo State and from from.the security agencies, who who made possible for the release of the corps members from the hands of the abductors in Imo state, with one of the parents of 20 corps members claiming that they paid about N120 million in total ransom to secure their release, the mother of one of the victims has disclosed.

Recall the prospective corps members were abducted on October 1 after gunmen attacked two 18-seater buses travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, along the Owerri-Onitsha expressway.

They were freed seven days after they were abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha road in Umunoha, Imo State.

Though the details of the rescue operation were unavailable at the initial time but the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, confirmed the release of the corps members in a statement on Wednesday, with security sources claiming that hostages were reportedly rescued by a joint team of the Nigeria Police Force, Army, Department of State Services and other security agencies.

But one of the parents of the victims, who is based in Ibadan, Oyo State, said her family paid N6 million in dollar equivalent to the abductors for the release of her son, one of the graduates travelling to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

She made the disclosure in an interview with News Central TV, saying the kidnappers initially demanded N50 million for each of the 20 victims before reducing the amount to N6 million per person.

According to her, the abductors first established contact with the families and allowed the victims to speak with their relatives as proof that they were still alive.

“The terrorists first demanded N50 million. They gave the abductees phone to confirm that they were alive. We now asked if the money is for all of them, they said no. The money is for each of them,” she said.

“It was later they agreed for us to pay N6 million and that was what we paid. We paid N6 million,” she said.

According to her, the abductors first established contact with the families and allowed the victims to speak with their relatives as proof that they were still alive.

“The terrorists first demanded N50 million. They gave the abductees phone to confirm that they were alive. We now asked if the money is for all of them, they said no. The money is for each of them,” she said

The mother said the families initially offered N500,000 but the kidnappers rejected the amount and threatened to kill the victims.

“It was later they agreed for us to pay N6 million and that was what we paid. We paid N6 million,” she said.

She said the affected parents in Ibadan subsequently met to work out arrangements for raising the ransom and transporting it to Imo State.

“We called a meeting of the parents of the victims in Ibadan. And we agreed to pay the money into our account and convert it to dollars when taking it to Imo. And that was what we did,” she said.

The woman said the families later received confirmation that the abducted graduates had regained their freedom.

She added that her son’s brother was part of the team that travelled to Imo State to negotiate with the abductors alongside relatives of other victims.

“It is true that they have released them. We saw the video. His brother was among the people who were in the negotiating team. His brother confirmed the ransom payment and he went there with the parents of other victims,” she said.

Describing the ordeal as deeply traumatic, the mother said the abduction had affected her physically and emotionally.

“I have not been myself since the abduction. I cannot sleep and I have been purging. I am not sad because of the money; I am sad because of my child. No money can’t buy a child,” she said.

The victims were reportedly travelling in two buses when gunmen intercepted them along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in the Umunoha area of Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
The incident triggered widespread concern among the victims’ families, particularly after the kidnappers reportedly demanded N50 million for each victim, amounting to N1 billion, and gave the families 24 hours to raise the money.

In the aftermath, the parents sought intervention from traditional and security authorities. They visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, in Ibadan, alongside the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri.

The parents said they could not raise the N1 billion demanded and appealed for help to secure the safe return of their children.

The kidnappers were subsequently reported to have lowered the ransom demand to about N5 million per victim.

Relatives also alleged that some of the victims, including female abductees, were subjected to physical assault while the families were being pressured to pay.

The Imo State Police Command later announced that security operatives had identified the suspected location where the victims were being held through drone surveillance.

Police, however, said the rescue operation had been delayed after intelligence reports indicated that improvised explosive devices (IEDs) had been planted around the area.

According to the police, bulldozers, armoured personnel carriers and other operational equipment were being deployed to gain access to the location and facilitate a safe rescue operation.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, also deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to coordinate the search-and-rescue efforts in Imo State.

Although authorities confirmed the release of the victims, details of how they were freed, including whether any ransom was paid, had not been publicly disclosed.

The account provided by the victim’s mother therefore offers details of the negotiations between the families and the abductors, including the alleged payment of ransom in dollars.

The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of prospective corps members travelling to orientation camps and the financial and emotional pressure kidnapping places on victims’ families.

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***Reaffirms Sept. 30 ultimatum, strike threat

By Sam Otuonye

As President Bola Tinubu gets set to address Nigerians on Thursday, October 1, to commemorate the country’s 66th year of Independence, the Nigerian public servants have listed wage increase and reduction in the price of Premium Motor Spirit ( PMS), otherwise known as petrol as the things expected to dominate the speech and make them renege on their earlier threat of embarking on a strike action.

Nigerian public servants under the aegis of Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), which made the declaration in a statement on Tuesday, reaffirmed their September 30, 2026 ultimatum to the federal government over the rising cost of petrol as well as their demand for a wage award and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage.

The workers union, which issued a three-day warning strike notice to the Federal Government, beginning October 2, said they would have no other option than to commence their warned strike action, if the government fails to slash the price of petrol, announce a wage award and introduce other measures to cushion the crushing hardship in the country.

The statement, which listed members of the JNPSNC to include the Nigerian Civil Service Union (NCSU); Medical and Health Workers Union (M&HWU); Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN); and National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Employees (AUPCTRE); Nigeria Union of Public Service, Reportorial, Secretarial, Data Processors and Allied Workers (NUPSRAW); National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers (NUPPPPROW); and National Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees (NUAAE), said it had mobilised public servants across the country for a three-day warning strike if the Federal Government failed to address the issues raised in its letter to President Bola Tinubu before the deadline.

The union in its statement, signed by the National Secretary of the JNPSNC and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Olowoyo Gbenga, noted that it had earlier written to President Bola Tinubu on September 21, demanding that the price of petrol be slashed to N500, the immediate announcement of a wage award and the beginning of negotiations for not less than N500,000 minimum wage from 2027, among others.

The statement warned that if the president fails to address the unions demands during the Independence anniversary speech, “public servants nationwide would commence a three-day warning strike beginning October 2, 2026”, stressing that the concerns of Nigerian workers should no longer be ignored.

According to the statement, “the three critical issues requiring urgent attention are as follows: reduction of fuel price to N500 per litre. The Federal Government should take urgent steps to bring down the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N500 per litre.

“This can be achieved through the provision of an intervention fund to address landing costs and support oil and gas operators.

“It is equally important for the Federal Government to ensure the sale of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery and operators of modular refineries at appropriate terms in order to facilitate increased domestic refining and help bring down the price of petroleum products.

“The current price of PMS, ranging from N1,450 to N2,000 and, in some locations outside major communities and cities, as high as N2,500 per litre, is unacceptable to Nigerian workers.

“The Council maintains that the economic hardship occasioned by the high cost of fuel is placing the survival of Nigerian workers, their dependants and the general populace under severe pressure, making it increasingly difficult for Nigerians to live normal and dignified lives.

Continuing, the union demanded that “the federal government should urgently approve a wage award for Nigerian workers to cushion the effects of the prevailing harsh economic conditions being experienced by workers, their dependants, and vulnerable Nigerians.

“The Council believes that urgent action on this demand will further enable public servants to consolidate their loyalty, commitment and productivity within the public service ecosystem.

“The Federal Government should urgently establish a tripartite committee to commence and facilitate negotiations for the new National Minimum Wage expected to become due in 2027.

“The Nigerian workers’ demand for the immediate constitution of the committee is informed by the need to avoid any administrative or procedural delay that could affect the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage once it is eventually negotiated and passed into law by the National Assembly.

“Consequently, the Council states that failure by the Federal Government to take the necessary steps to address these issues on or before 30th September 2026 will leave Nigerian workers with no option but to commence a three-day warning strike, with effect from Friday, 2nd October 2026, to press home their demands.

“It is imperative to state clearly that the Independence Day address of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should adequately address these critical issues.

“Failure to address the concerns raised by the Council, will attract the displeasure of Nigerian workers and their dependants, as well as other vulnerable Nigerians who continue to bear the brunt of the prevailing economic hardship,” the union warned

From Lawrence Davids (Lagos)

President Bola Tinubu returned to the country, Tuesday evening, after a four- week working vacation in Europe, declaring himself healthy, sound and ready to go.

The President arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, where he was received by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other dignitaries.

Responding to journalists about his health condition, the President said he remained fit and prepared to continue his duties.

“Rumours will always be emanate from politics. I am hale and strong. I am ready to work. The fact remains that I am here, healthy, sound and ready to go,” Tinubu said.

Tinubu had left Abuja on August 30 for the working vacation, spending one week in London before travelling to Paris, where he spent additional one three weeks.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu departed Paris for Lagos, where he is expected to hold strategic meetings with political leaders and associates.

“While in Lagos, President Tinubu will also hold strategic meetings with political leaders and associates over several days in preparation for the 2027 elections,” the statement read.

The Presidency said Tinubu chose to travel to Lagos first to honour the memory of the late Chief MKO Abiola, winner of the June 1993 presidential election and a prominent figure in Nigeria’s democratic struggle.

“On October 1, Independence Day, the President would attend the premiere of a movie honouring Abiola at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos,” the statement added.

The President had departed Nigeria on August 30 for London before travelling to Paris, with the Presidency describing the trip as a working vacation. He later extended his stay by a few days before returning to Nigeria on Tuesday.

The President is expected to remain in Lagos for the 66th Independence Anniversary celebrations.

He is scheduled to attend official engagements in the state, including activities marking Nigeria’s independence on October 1, before returning to Abuja.