Kidnappers have made at least N46.1 million from the abduction of corps members alone between 2023 and 2025.
The latest of these ransom payments is the case of Rofiat Lawal, a corps member whose family paid N1.1 million to kidnappers after she was abducted on her way to Ibadan, Oyo State.
Lawal, who was released yesterday, was kidnapped on her way to Ibadan, Oyo State from Edo State on Tuesday. She was travelling to assume a new role at her place of primary assignment (PPA) for the one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.
Recounting her experience after her release, Lawal said that the kidnappers first demanded a ransom of N20 million to reunite her with her family.
She explained that they later reduced it to N5 million, but the family could only raise N1.1 million.
Lawal is not the only corps member whose family has had to part with huge sums of money running into millions of naira for her freedom. At least seven other corps members have been kidnapped for ransom.
READ ALSO: TIMELINE: 83 Corps Members Abducted in 10 Years — 40 in Rivers Alone
AISHA SHITTU – N30 MILLION
Aisha Shittu, a corps member abducted in Kaduna State in November, was freed a month later after her family paid N30 million and gave 10 new motorcycles to her abductors.
FIJ reported how her captors had placed a demand of N500 million to release the corps member. A relative of the victim told FIJ that they negotiated and had those who held her hostage reduce the ransom to N30 million but at an additional cost.
The kidnappers also demanded that the N30 million be paid in cash to avoid leaving digital trails.
FOUR CORPS MEMBERS – N4 MILLION
Patience Andrews, Oluwadara Feranmi, Oribamise Taiwo and Ajayi Lekan, corps members returning home after the three-week orientation programme in Enugu and Abia states were kidnapped on August 16.
They were kidnapped alongside an artisan at Omi Alafa Village in Ifon, Ose Local Government Area, Ondo State.
Andrews told the media that the kidnappers first requested N30 million per victim before reducing it to N1 million each after intense negotiations.
The kidnappers didn’t just settle for cash. Alongside the N1 million ransom per victim, they also demanded and received three packs of Hollandia yogurt, two loaves of bread, a carton of Peak milk, a pack of malt, bottles of Fearless energy drink, a pack of cigarettes, and 10 packs of cooked rice with chicken, bringing the total ransom to N4 million for the corps members.
OMONIYI ‘FERANMI – N10 MILLION
Omoniyi Feranmi, a prospective corps member, was abducted on November 2, 2023, while travelling to resume the three-week mandatory orientation camp in Abuja.
Feranmi, who was kidnapped in Kogi State, was only released after his family paid a ransom of N10 million to his abductors.
This was after an initial demand of N20 million, but the family could only afford half of it.
Amount kidnappers have profited from abducting corps members minus the demand for items.
ESTHER AKANDE – N1 MILLON
Esther Akande, just like Feranmi, a prospective corps member, was abducted on her way to the NYSC camp in Keffi, Nasarawa State, on August 16.
For Akande’s release, her family, friends and coursemates paid N1 million to her abductors.
Her kidnappers initially demanded N300 million, later reducing it to N100 million, before finally accepting N1 million after intense negotiations.
Most of the funds that went into her release were sourced from corps members, undergraduates, and staff members of Adeyemi College of Education, where she graduated.
Meanwhile, after her release, Eddy Megwa, the NYSC spokesperson, and Akande’s father denied paying anything to the kidnappers in exchange for her freedom.
READ ALSO: Kidnappers Hold Kaduna Corps Member to N500m Ransom
In December 2023, FIJ reported how at least 83 corps members were kidnapped across the country.
Between 2018 and 2023, 63 corps members were abducted, highlighting a growing threat to young Nigerians serving in the NYSC. Rivers State recorded the highest number of cases, with at least 40 corps members kidnapped since 2013.
Despite the NYSC’s claims that some of these victims were released through security efforts, accounts from survivors and their families consistently point to ransom payments as the primary means of securing their freedom.
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