-NYSC denies payment
-Source from a family confirmsN1 million ransom payment
Miss Esther Akande, a member of the National Youth Service Corps with the call-up number NYSC/IFE/2023/201810 (Batch B stream 2), who was abducted on August 16 while traveling to the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Magaji Dan Yanusa Keffi, Nasarawa State, and freed on August 19 revealed that a ransom ofN1 million was paid to free her.
The kidnappers requested a ransom ofN1 million, according to family sources who confirmed the demand on Saturday. They also said that the police were unconcerned about the situation, while the NYSC asked the family to cooperate and pay the money.
However, Miss Esther detailed every aspect of her kidnapping and subsequent release in a phone chat with one of our reporters on Wednesday.
Because our bus, our car, actually handed us off to another car (driver) at Lokoja, Esther said she was on her way to camp there. He therefore dropped us off. We then got into another car and continued driving. We had just met these people on the way when Abaji, I believe, ordered us to stop as we were about to enter.
“They began firing at the vehicle, and before we knew it, the driver had been wounded. He was also shot next to him. The driver, I believe, sustained a head injury. The other victim of the shooting passed away instantly on the scene. As a result, we made an effort to get out of the vehicle because it had actually flipped over and was emitting smoke.
We were therefore attempting to flee since we thought the automobile might catch fire. I was taken from the car by these men as we were preparing to flee. I then witnessed them dragging another woman who was in the car and me both into the bush after they had dragged me there. Then, I have no idea how the other two passengers in the car got away. I’m not sure. That’s how it happened, then. We spent four days in the bush. We were tormented, she claimed.
Esther admitted, “I stayed four days, when I was asked about my release. I was freed on Saturday beginning on Wednesday. The occurrence took place on Wednesday. On Saturday after getting money from my parents, they freed me. They did, in fact, ask for money. They initially asked for N300m. It was later lowered to N100 million. Then, after much pleading, it was eventually lowered toN1 million.
“They requested that my father deliver the funds to Abaji. I’m not sure what transpired there, but I do know that they delayed him; he had been there since 12 p.m., and by 9 p.m. they had attended to him. So they released me later after getting the money.
