HURIWA demands probe into alleged N6m ransom for corps members

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the Federal Government, Imo State Government and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate conflicting accounts surrounding the release of 20 abducted prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State, particularly allegations that ₦6m ransom was paid.

The group, through its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, also urged President Bola Tinubu and Governor Hope Uzodimma to clarify their positions on the incident, following conflicting accounts of how the victims regained their freedom.

The controversy followed the release of the 20 prospective corps members after a reported abduction in Imo State.

While the police attributed their freedom to sustained search-and-rescue operations at Amakohia Ubi village, the state government maintained that no ransom was paid.

However, accounts attributed to some parents suggested that money was raised to secure the victims’ release.

One of the mothers, Alirat Wahab, reportedly told News Central Television that her family raised ₦6m after the kidnappers demanded money for their son’s release.

According to her account, the abductors initially demanded ₦50m for each of the 20 victims before negotiations reduced the amount sought from her family.

“We only had ₦5.5m at the time, but they insisted on ₦6m,” she reportedly said.

Her husband also claimed that parents pooled resources, obtained loans and sought financial assistance from relatives, friends and sympathisers to meet the demand.

Reacting to the conflicting accounts, HURIWA said an independent investigation was necessary to establish what happened before the victims were released.

The association argued that an alleged ransom payment and a security operation were not necessarily mutually exclusive, urging the authorities to establish the facts rather than allow competing accounts to fuel public suspicion.

“The critical questions are whether ransom was paid, whether security operatives conducted a rescue operation, and how these circumstances relate to the victims’ eventual release,” the association said.

HURIWA called on the Inspector-General of Police to provide a detailed account of the operation and clarify whether security operatives were aware of any ransom negotiations or payments.

It also urged the Imo State Government to explain the basis for its denial of ransom payment and address the accounts attributed to the affected families.

The group further urged Tinubu and Uzodimma to apologise to Nigerians if an investigation established that official statements had given a misleading account of the circumstances surrounding the victims’ release.

HURIWA warned that failure to resolve the conflicting accounts could undermine public confidence in security institutions amid persistent concerns about kidnapping.

It said transparency was necessary to establish the facts, reassure affected families and strengthen public trust in the authorities’ handling of abduction cases.