Female NYSC member kidnapped on Abuja-Kaduna highway regains freedom after ‘N2m ransom’

Kidnapped NYSC member Faith Onoriode

A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Faith Onoriode, who was kidnapped on the Abuja-Kaduna highway two months ago, has regained freedom.

Her brother Festus Onoriode told Vanguard she was released on May 29.

Onoriode, a graduate of microbiology from Delta State Polytechnic, was kidnapped on March 21 while travelling from Abuja to Jigawa for the NYSC orientation camp.

According to Festus, the kidnappers demanded a motorcycle, five Tecno phones, airtime and N2 million.

He said the kidnappers gave them specification of the motorcycle and the mobile phones, adding that they also sent them airtime worth N100,000.

“We paid N2million, recharge cards worth N100,000. They also demanded a motor bike and five phones. They gave the specification of the motorcycle and the phones. They said the motorbike was not sold in Kaduna, it was in Lagos State,” he said.

“We bought the bike and added the five Tecno phones. When we told them we were ready with the bike, they advised us to arrange for an escort to take it to a spot. And the escort took N300,000 to do this.”

Festus said his sister was receiving medical attention in a hospital in Kaduna.

“It was not easy raising the ransom. People assisted us. We thank God she came out,” he added.