Twenty prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted while travelling from Oyo state to their orientation camps in Abia state have been freed after spending seven days in captivity.

The graduates were kidnapped last Thursday along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo state, after gunmen attacked the two buses conveying them from Ibadan.

The Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, Isaiah Akpan, confirmed their release on Wednesday.

Their freedom ends a seven-day ordeal for the graduates, who had been travelling from Ibadan to Abia state to begin their NYSC orientation activities before they were kidnapped.

Further details surrounding their release, including whether ransom was paid or security agencies arrested any of the suspected kidnappers, were not immediately available yesterday.

The victims were travelling to their respective NYSC orientation camps when the attackers intercepted the buses and took the 20 prospective corps members hostage.

The abduction sparked concern among their families and raised fresh concerns over the safety of young Nigerians travelling to commence the mandatory national service programme.

The kidnappers initially demanded N50 million for each of the 20 victims, putting the total ransom at N1 billion.

However, they later reduced the ransom demand to N5 million per victim, bringing the total amount demanded for the release of all 20 prospective corps members to N100 million.

Following their release, the 20 victims were taken to the Department of State Services Hospital in Owerri, Imo state capital, where they are currently receiving medical attention.

The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, visited the rescued prospective corps members at the facility.

Nafiu was accompanied by the Imo state Commissioner of Police, the Director of the Department of State Services and the Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade, Imo State.

During the visit, the NYSC Director-General met with the victims and assessed their condition.

He also reportedly addressed the rescued prospective corps members.