A family member of one of the abductees remarked: “We don’t know how we are going to raise that kind of money. Everybody was shocked when two parents told us that after they paid the final N8 million (to make up the N13 million ransom negotiated), the terrorists suddenly refused to release our children.
“They said instead, the kidnappers contacted them to demand an additional N200 million ransom. We have paid N13 million already. First, we paid N5 million, later N8 million. Some parents sold their lands, and some even collected loans to raise the N13 million. We have not received any help from the government. So, how are we going to raise this fresh ransom of N200 million? We have deliberately kept this development from my mother. I don’t think that poor widow will survive if she hears this. We are suffering and helpless.”
Another of the affected parents remarked: “Terrorists are molesting our children and the government can’t rescue them. They are communicating with us, parents and relatives, on the phone and we have given the numbers to security agents, yet, they have failed to do anything positive. This is horrific.”
Two weeks ago, the Director General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed, said the agency was working with security agencies to secure the release of the abducted NYSC members.
Speaking at an interactive session with members of the House of Representatives Committee on Youth Development, Ahmed said: “We have full synergy among the agencies.”
