A mother has shared the harrowing experience of securing her son's release after he was among the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members kidnapped along the Owerri-Onitsha expressway.

The victims were seized on October 1 when gunmen intercepted two buses travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State. According to the mother, the abductors initially demanded a staggering 50 million Naira per person. After weeks of intense negotiation and desperate appeals from the families, the kidnappers gradually lowered their demands, ultimately settling for 6 million Naira for her son.

As part of the ransom arrangements, the captors instructed the families of the 20 hostages to send representatives to Ibadan. The victim's father and elder brother travelled to the designated meeting point, where they were directed to transfer the funds digitally and convert the cash into US dollars upon reaching Imo State.

The elder brother successfully delivered the payment, leading to the captives' release. The mother expressed immense relief following her son's safe return, noting that the ordeal had left her deeply traumatized and physically exhausted throughout the captivity period.