On October 1, gunmen attacked two buses transporting prospective National Youth Service Corps members along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State, abducting 20 corps members and another passenger. The buses were en route to orientation camps in the South-East and South-South from Ibadan. Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has since explained that authorities deliberately restricted information during rescue efforts to protect the lives of those being held.
According to Governor Uzodimma, releasing operational details while the victims remained in captivity could have endangered them and complicated efforts by security agencies to secure their freedom. He praised the security agencies for their collaboration, professionalism, and patriotism in bringing the ordeal to an end. The governor also commended the Imo and Oyo State governments for working together throughout the rescue operation.
The initial response by security agencies led to the recovery of the two buses and the rescue of 10 victims, while operatives continued searching for those taken into the bush. As the search intensified, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu deployed additional tactical teams and operational assets to Imo, including the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Umar Nadada.
Security agencies subsequently located a suspected hideout of the kidnappers after deploying drones to track them. An immediate ground assault was, however, delayed following intelligence that the area may have been rigged with improvised explosive devices. Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, stated that security forces were preparing to deploy bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers to gain access to the location while minimising risks to the captives and operatives.
Reports emerged that the abductors demanded ₦50 million for each of 19 prospective corps members, amounting to ₦950 million, with some families reportedly contacted through the phones of their abducted relatives. The victims regained their freedom on Wednesday after a six-day ordeal, triggering a major joint security operation involving the police, military, Department of State Services, and other agencies.
Following their release, the victims were taken to the DSS Hospital in Owerri for medical attention. NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, visited them at the hospital alongside the Imo State Commissioner of Police, the Director of the DSS, and the Brigade Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade. Governor Uzodimma also praised the parents of the victims for their patience during the rescue operation.
Uzodimma urged Nigerians to continue to have faith in the Federal Government and security agencies as efforts continue to address insecurity across the country. The governor's statement emphasized the importance of collaboration between security agencies and the public in addressing the challenges of insecurity in Nigeria. The rescue operation demonstrates the commitment of the government and security agencies to protecting the lives and well-being of citizens.
Key points
- Governor Uzodimma withholds information to protect abducted NYSC members
- Security agencies collaborate to rescue abducted victims
- Victims released after six-day ordeal, taken for medical attention
