The Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Bosso, says he is not aware of any ransom being paid for the release of the 20 abducted corps members and one other who regained freedom from their abductors in the state on Wednesday, October 7.

Speaking during an interview with Channels TV, Bosso said that the kidnappers succumbed to pressure from security agencies who combed the forest during a rescue operation.

"We responded swiftly to the distress call. This was a joint operation involving the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Army, Navy, Air Force, DSS and Civil Defence Corps. We galvanised our resources and went into the bush. We did not relent in our efforts and tried as much as possible to make sure that all the crannies within the bush were combed.

Locations where we had intelligence, especially the Amako community area where the intelligence came from, were combed. At the end of the day, because of the pressure we gave the hoodlums, they eventually released the prospective corps members, and we got them rescued," he said.

Asked whether ransom was paid to secure the victims' release, Bosso said he was unaware of any such payment.

"To my knowledge, no. I am not aware whether a ransom was paid, but we did what we were supposed to do as professionals, and that's how we got them," he said

Parents of some of the abducted corps members, however, insist they paid ransom for the release of their loved one. One of the mothers of the abducted corps members says N6m was paid to secure her son's release.

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