Twenty prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and another passenger who were abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State have been released. The victims were among passengers attacked by suspected gunmen while travelling to different NYSC orientation camps in the South-East and South-South. The abduction occurred on October 1, 2026, after two buses conveying the prospective corps members were intercepted around the Umunoha area of Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
The freed victims have been taken to the Department of State Services (DSS) Hospital in Owerri, where they are currently receiving medical attention. The development comes days after security agencies intensified operations to locate the abducted graduates and bring them out of captivity. The victims had travelled from Ibadan, Oyo State, and were heading towards their respective NYSC orientation camps when the attack occurred.
The two buses were reportedly travelling to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and Bende, Abia State, when they came under attack around 6:30 a.m. The Imo State Police Command had earlier confirmed that NYSC members were among passengers taken into the bush by the gunmen. The command initially announced the rescue of 10 victims shortly after the attack, while security personnel continued searching for those who were still missing.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, subsequently directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to coordinate the rescue operation in Imo State. The deployment came amid growing concerns over the safety of the young graduates and increasing pressure on security agencies to secure their release.
Security agencies also increased intelligence gathering and surveillance around the suspected hideout of the abductors. The operation involved personnel from different security agencies working together to locate the victims and prevent further movement by the kidnappers. The abduction had generated concern among the families of the prospective corps members, many of whom were left without information about the whereabouts of their relatives.
Reports in the days following the incident also indicated that the abductors had contacted some families and demanded ransom for the release of the victims. The ransom reports further increased anxiety among relatives, who called for urgent intervention by the authorities. Security agencies, however, maintained that efforts were focused on bringing the victims back safely and apprehending those responsible for the attack.
The latest development that the 20 prospective corps members and another abducted passenger have regained their freedom brings relief to their families after several days of uncertainty. Their transfer to the DSS Hospital in Owerri is expected to allow medical personnel to assess their physical condition following their time in captivity. The National Youth Service Corps has yet to publicly provide further details on the condition of the released victims as of the time of filing this report.
Key points
- Twenty prospective NYSC members and another passenger were abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State on October 1, 2026.
- The victims were released days after security agencies intensified operations to locate them.
- The freed victims are currently receiving medical attention at the DSS Hospital in Owerri.
