Families of prospective corps members have been thrown into anxiety after NYSC members abducted in Imo were among passengers caught in a gunmen attack along the Owerri-Onitsha Road on Thursday, October 1. The incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area, where two buses travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, were intercepted by suspected armed men.
The buses were carrying prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers who were travelling towards different orientation camps in the South-East and South-South. One bus was heading towards Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, while the other was travelling towards Bende in Abia State, according to the Imo State Police Command.
The attack immediately raised concerns among families whose relatives were travelling to begin their national service programme. Reports initially indicated that about 20 corps members were taken, although the police later stated that the exact number of abducted persons was still being verified.
NYSC Members Abducted in Imo as Police Begin Rescue Operation
Following the attack, police officers and other security personnel were deployed to the area in an effort to locate the victims and track the suspected abductors. The security response led to the rescue of 10 victims, while both buses involved in the incident were recovered.
The Imo State Police Command said the rescued victims were safe and were receiving attention after their recovery. However, the command did not immediately disclose the identities of those rescued or confirm how many people remained in captivity. Officials said the figure would be released after the verification process had been completed.
Police tactical teams were subsequently deployed to continue the search. Intelligence-led tracking was also being used to identify the movements of the suspected kidnappers and locate the remaining victims.
The Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Audu Bosso, visited the scene alongside other security commanders. The visit was carried out to assess the situation and provide operational direction to the teams involved in the rescue effort.
The police command also said the operation would continue until all victims were safely recovered and the suspects responsible for the attack were arrested. Members of the public were urged to remain calm while security agencies continued their search across the surrounding areas.
Families Await Updates as Search Continues
The incident has placed affected families under renewed pressure as they wait for information about their relatives. The uncertainty has been increased by the fact that authorities have not yet confirmed the final number of people who were taken from the buses.
The police said they were working with the NYSC directorate to contact families of the affected corps members and provide updates as the operation progresses. Authorities also appealed to residents and other members of the public to provide credible information that could assist the rescue effort.
The affected section of the Owerri-Onitsha expressway has since been reopened, with traffic reportedly flowing normally. Security personnel have also remained in the area to protect commuters and support the ongoing operation.
The Imo incident has also drawn attention to the safety of corps members travelling to and from orientation camps. The development comes only weeks after another highway abduction involving NYSC members in Kogi State.
In that earlier incident, security forces eventually rescued 15 corps members and six other abducted persons after a sustained operation in Ofu Local Government Area.
For the latest Imo incident, however, the search remains focused on locating those who have not yet been accounted for. The police have maintained that further information will be released as the number of victims is confirmed and the rescue operation develops.
With 10 victims already rescued, families are now waiting for the remaining abducted persons to be located and safely reunited with their loved ones. Security agencies continue to search for the suspects while efforts are being made to establish the full circumstances surrounding the attack.
