The mother of one of the freed prospective National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members abducted in Imo State has revealed that she paid N6 million ransom to secure her son’s release.

The prospective corps members were abducted on October 1 after gunmen attacked two 18-seater buses travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway.

The woman, who spoke in an interview with News Central Television on Wednesday, said the kidnappers initially demanded N50 million for each victim before eventually reducing the ransom for her son to N6 million.

She said the abductors later contacted the families and directed them to send representatives to meet them in Ibadan for the ransom arrangement.

According to her, her husband and her son’s elder brother were among those who went to meet the kidnappers and delivered the money.

She said the abductors instructed them to transfer the ransom to an account and later convert the money to dollars when they reached Imo State.

The mother confirmed that her son had been released after the ransom was paid, saying the family was able to speak with him following his release.

She also recounted the emotional toll the abduction had taken on her, saying she struggled to sleep and suffered severe distress while her son remained in captivity.