On Thursday, gunmen attacked two buses carrying prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State, Nigeria. The graduates were en route to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states from Ibadan, Oyo State. The attack has sparked a rescue operation, with security agencies working to locate and free the abducted individuals.
According to Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, security agencies have located the suspected camp where the victims are being held, but the threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) has hindered an immediate rescue operation. Intelligence indicated that the camp had been mined, prompting a cautious approach to ensure the safety of both the victims and security personnel.
On Friday, security personnel deployed drones to pinpoint the suspected location of the kidnappers. The drones provided coordinates, but the police could not immediately move in due to the IED threat. Bosso stated that security agencies were preparing to deploy bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers to navigate the area and rescue the victims unhurt.
The police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, confirmed that security operatives were closing in on the kidnappers and that personnel had been briefed on how to proceed. The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, had deployed additional personnel, including the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to strengthen the rescue operation.
There are conflicting accounts of the number of passengers abducted and those subsequently rescued. The Imo State Police Command initially announced that 10 victims had been rescued, but parents of the prospective corps members disputed this claim. They stated that the 10 passengers reported as rescued had actually escaped from the kidnappers by fleeing into the bush during the attack.
According to the parents, 30 passengers were travelling in the two buses when the gunmen struck, with 10 escaping through the bush and 20 being taken away by the kidnappers. This contradicts the earlier account by security agencies, raising questions about the accuracy of the initial reports.
The rescue operation is ongoing, with security agencies working to safely free the abducted NYSC members. The deployment of bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers is expected to aid in the rescue effort, and authorities have assured that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safe release of the victims.
Key points
- The kidnappers have mined their suspected camp with IEDs, delaying rescue operations.
- Security agencies have located the suspected camp but are exercising caution due to the IED threat.
- Conflicting accounts exist regarding the number of passengers abducted and rescued.
