The NYSC kidnap involving 19 prospective corps members travelling from Ibadan to their orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom has thrown their families into panic after kidnappers reportedly demanded ₦950 million for their release. The gunmen attacked two buses carrying the passengers along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in the Umunoha area of Imo State on Thursday, October 1, 2026, as the young Nigerians travelled to begin their national service.
The reported ransom amounts to ₦50 million for each of the 19 victims, according to Isiah Akpan, the Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, whose company operated the affected buses. The development has intensified concerns among relatives who are waiting for information about the whereabouts and safety of the abducted prospective corps members.
NYSC Kidnap Attack Disrupts Journey to Orientation Camps
The victims began their journey from Bodija/Samonda Park in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday, according to Akpan. Heavy traffic around Benin, Edo State, delayed the buses, and they eventually reached Onitsha in Anambra State later that day.
Because of the road conditions, the drivers decided to stop in Oba and continue the journey the following morning. They resumed around 5am on Thursday, but the trip took a dangerous turn shortly after the buses entered Imo State.
Akpan said gunmen emerged from the bush and blocked the two vehicles before forcing 19 passengers into the surrounding bush. The drivers escaped from the scene and alerted security personnel at a nearby checkpoint, which prompted security agencies to begin a search for the abducted passengers.
The abandoned buses remained at the scene, with passengers’ belongings reportedly scattered inside. Akpan also said the security operation faced an initial setback after some villagers allegedly prevented security personnel from moving the buses while officers attempted to pursue the attackers.
The prospective corps members were travelling to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom, rather than an orientation camp in Imo State. This distinction is important because the victims were passing through Imo during their interstate journey to their assigned states of service.
Kidnappers Contact Families and Demand ₦950m
The reported ransom demand has placed significant pressure on the victims’ families, with some relatives saying the abductors contacted them using the phones of the missing prospective corps members.
One parent told Saturday PUNCH that the kidnappers called through her son’s phone and demanded ₦50 million for his release. Another mother, identified as Mrs Oladosu, said the abductors contacted her family through her daughter’s phone and that relatives were able to see the young woman and other victims during a video call.
The accounts have increased fears among families who are struggling to establish direct contact with their relatives. One victim, Akande Farouq, reportedly managed to send a brief message to his family WhatsApp group after the attack, simply indicating that kidnappers had taken them, before his phone became unreachable.
The reported ₦950 million demand represents the combined amount allegedly requested for the 19 victims. However, authorities have not publicly confirmed that the families have agreed to pay the demanded ransom.
Security Agencies Launch Rescue Operation
The Imo State Police Command said security agencies launched a coordinated operation after receiving information about the attack. Police spokesperson Henry Okoye said security personnel were tracking the abductors and searching for the remaining victims.
Security agencies have also increased their involvement in the rescue operation. A later police statement said Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu deployed Deputy Inspector-General of Police Shehu Nadada to Imo State to coordinate the search-and-rescue effort, alongside two commissioners of police.
Earlier reports also said troops rescued 10 prospective corps members following the attack, although police could not immediately confirm whether those rescued victims were part of the 19 prospective corps members connected to the reported ₦950 million ransom demand.
The varying figures reported by different authorities make it important to rely on confirmed updates as the rescue operation continues.
Oyo Government Responds to NYSC Kidnap
The Oyo State Government has condemned the incident and said it is working with security agencies, the Imo State Government and NYSC leadership to secure the victims’ release.
The state government said Governor Seyi Makinde had directed the relevant authorities to deploy the necessary resources toward securing the safe return of the affected prospective corps members. Officials also urged the families to remain calm while security agencies continued their efforts.
The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of young Nigerians travelling between states for the NYSC programme, particularly because prospective corps members often travel long distances during mobilisation and deployment periods.
The Imo attack also follows other incidents involving corps members and prospective corps members on Nigerian highways. Premium Times reported that the latest incident occurred only weeks after another attack in Kogi State in which prospective corps members were among passengers abducted by gunmen.
For the families affected by the latest NYSC kidnap, however, the immediate priority remains the safe return of their loved ones as security agencies continue searching for the abductors and those still in captivity.
