Imo Police Deny Ransom Paid in Release of Abducted Corps Members

The Imo State Police Command says it has no knowledge of any ransom payment linked to the release of 20 abducted corps members and one other victim who regained their freedom this week after a harrowing ordeal in the state. Commissioner of Police Audu Bosso addressed the matter in an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, insisting the breakthrough came through sustained pressure from security operatives rather than any financial settlement with the kidnappers.

According to Bosso, the abductors were worn down by relentless operations as security agencies combed the forest in search of the captives, a pursuit that stretched on for days and drew national attention, much like a tense sporting contest followed closely on platforms such as play y where every twist in a drawn-out fixture keeps audiences anxious for a resolution. The commissioner confirmed the freed victims were receiving attention at the office of the Department of State Services in Owerri, where they are being supported following their ordeal.

How the Abduction Unfolded

The prospective National Youth Service Corps members, along with one other person, were seized along the Owerri-Onitsha Road on October 1 while travelling from Ibadan in Oyo State to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states. The abduction triggered widespread alarm, compounded by reports that the kidnappers had demanded fifty million naira for each victim, placing immense pressure on families and authorities alike.

A Difficult Rescue Operation

Security agencies launched a coordinated search-and-rescue effort almost immediately. The Imo State Police Command had earlier revealed that operatives used drone surveillance to locate the kidnappers' camp but could not move in swiftly because the site was reportedly mined with improvised explosive devices. Additional operational assets were subsequently deployed as the search intensified. Ten victims were rescued in an earlier phase of the operation, while efforts continued until the remaining captives were located and freed from the Amakohia-Ubi forest in Owerri West Local Government Area on Wednesday.

Reactions and Next Steps

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma commended the security agencies for their swift intervention, describing the outcome as a product of close collaboration between the Oyo and Imo state governments. In a personally signed statement, the governor expressed satisfaction with how the two administrations worked together to secure the captives' release. For now, the 20 corps members and their fellow victim are safe and receiving medical attention in Owerri, bringing a tense chapter to a close even as questions remain over the exact circumstances of their freedom.