N1m ransom paid for my release – Kidnapped NYSC member, Esther Akande

Esther Akande, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member assigned Call-up No.: NYSC/IFE/2023/201810 (Batch B stream 2), who was abducted on August 16th while en route to the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Magaji Dan Yanusa Keffi, Nasarawa State, has been released after a harrowing ordeal. In a phone interview with our correspondent, Esther recounted the terrifying details of her abduction and subsequent release.

According to Esther, after boarding a second vehicle arranged by the initial driver in Lokoja, she and fellow travelers were ambushed by armed assailants as they approached Abaji. The attackers opened fire on the vehicle, fatally wounding the driver and another passenger. The vehicle overturned, and as smoke billowed from it, Esther and the remaining passengers attempted to flee. She was forcibly seized by the assailants and taken into the nearby bush, along with another female passenger.

Esther revealed that she and the other abductee endured four days of torment while in captivity. The abductors subjected them to physical and emotional torture before finally releasing Esther on August 19th. Her freedom came at a price, as her family paid a ransom of ₦1 million to secure her release. The initial ransom demand was N300 million, but negotiations eventually brought it down to ₦1 million.

After the ransom was paid, Esther was set free. She recounted that her father personally handed over the money in Abaji, but was kept waiting for several hours before the transaction was completed. Following her release, Esther was taken to the NYSC camp for medical attention and debriefing.

Despite Esther’s testimony about the ransom payment, both the NYSC Director of Press and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, and her father, who is a pastor, denied the payment. According to them, Esther’s release was secured through a combination of pleas, prayers, and the collaborative efforts of security agencies and the NYSC.

However, a family source directly involved in the situation confirmed that the ₦1 million ransom was indeed paid, leading to Esther’s release. The source also revealed that the NYSC was initially informed of the abduction, but the family followed the kidnappers’ instructions not to involve security agencies. Instead, the matter was taken up by the educational institution Esther graduated from, Adeyemi College of Education, with the support of staff, undergraduates, and fellow corps members contributing to raise the ransom.

The source questioned the contradictory statements by the NYSC and emphasized the implausibility of a victim being released without the involvement of security agencies. The source also noted that the family had to personally deliver the ransom to the kidnappers.