By Adeyinka Adeniran
After seven days of ordeal, rescued corpers-to-be have reunited with their families in Ibadan, Oyo State.
They were released to their family members at the DSS Oyo state headquarters, Aleshinloye around 8:30PM, Thursday.
They were received into the waiting arms of their parents and family members after about three hours of wait, at the DSS Headquarters where they were moved into for debriefing upon their arrival into the capital city.
Before the freed youths were allowed to reunite with their families, an operative of the DSS had earlier addressed the parents and family members urging them not to take photos or record anything while the wait lasted.
The information made sourcing information from the waiting parents reluctant to give out information, even after the received their wards.
However, emotional scenes of relief and gratitude unfolded as the young graduates, who were rescued from kidnappers after spending seven harrowing days in captivity in Imo State, were reunited with their families.
While some parents were shedding tears of joys on seeing their children, some others were too emotional and could only grab their ward by the hands as they walked into the waiting vehicles.
The young graduates, who departed Ibadan on October 1 bound for orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states before being ambushed along the Owerri-Onitsha Road, gathered under tight security following their successful release through a joint operation involving the Department of State Services (DSS), the police, and sister security agencies.
The seven-day ordeal had triggered intense anxiety across Oyo state, prompting distressed parents to storm the private residence of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, alongside top state officials to solicit traditional and governmental intervention.
Reliving the traumatizing experience in captivity following their rescue on October 7 at Amakohia Ubi village in Imo State, one of the corps members, Akande Morenikeji, described the period as mentally and physically draining but clarified key details regarding their treatment by the abductors.
“Ah, it was stressful, too,” Morenikeji recounted, dispelling rumors that the captives were restrained in heavy chains.
Addressing concerns regarding physical abuse and gender-based violence, she explained, “No, we were not chained, the guys, yes, the guys mostly. But as for us, the girls, they did not do any sexual harassment to us. They did not do anything sexual to us.”
A parent identified as Mrs Akande expressed overwhelming joy, noting the stark contrast between the days of suspense and the moment news of their safety broke.
“It is good news! Good news! Good news!”, she exclaimed, adding that the emotional weight lifted immediately: “Ah! Immediately I heard they were released yesterday, I slept soundly!”
She firmly stated that no financial compensation was given to the perpetrators to secure their freedom, declaring, “Ah, no ransom! Alhamdulillahi, we didn’t pay any ransom.”
She commended the coordinated security response that led to the safe return of the youth prospective corps members, stating, “I thank God, and I thank the DSS officials—they really tried. The team from Oyo State and the team from Imo State, they really tried and stood by us until our children came out safe and sound.”
“My advice to the government is that when Corps members are posted to their service states, they should ensure proper security arrangements—or allow them to travel by air to avoid these kinds of dangerous road journeys,” she urged.
It was gathered that the rescued corps members have since undergone medical evaluations in Owerri and Ibadan as security operatives continue operations to track down the perpetrators.
