About 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members were reportedly abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State on October 1, Independence Day, with police confirming that 10 victims have been rescued and two buses recovered. The incident occurred at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Thursday near Umunoha in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area, as two buses carrying graduates were intercepted by suspected armed men.
Attack on Two Buses Carrying Graduates
The Imo State Police Command confirmed that two buses travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to Uyo in Akwa Ibom and Bende in Abia State were attacked. NYSC members were among the passengers. An initial report from The Guardian put the number of prospective corps members abducted at about 20.
The transport company later stated that the two buses were carrying a combined 30 passengers, with 15 people in each vehicle. According to the company, the 20 passengers abducted were all prospective NYSC members travelling to the Akwa Ibom orientation camp, while the remaining 10 passengers were left behind and subsequently conveyed safely to the camp.
Police Response and Rescue Efforts
Police spokesperson DSP Henry Okoye said in an official statement on X that the exact number of people taken was still being established. The police have confirmed that 10 victims were rescued after security agencies responded to the attack, and both buses were recovered. The rescued victims are safe and receiving attention, according to the police.
The Imo State Police Command, led by Commissioner of Police CP Audu Garba Bosso, in collaboration with sister security agencies, has deployed tactical teams. Operatives are using intelligence-led tracking to locate the suspected kidnappers. CP Bosso also visited the scene with other security commanders to assess the situation and direct the operation.
Parent's Account of Chilling Warning
One parent shared in a Facebook video that her daughter, who was travelling to an orientation camp, had been sharing her location with the family on WhatsApp. Shortly after 6 a.m., the daughter reportedly sent a single chilling word — “kidnapper” — before her phone became unreachable. Police have not independently confirmed the account.
The incident occurred as prospective corps members were travelling to begin the 2026 Batch C Stream I orientation exercise. The attack has renewed concerns about the safety of young graduates travelling across the country to report for NYSC orientation, particularly after another highway abduction involving corps members in Kogi State in August.
For now, the police say the operation will continue until the remaining victims are located, while the identities of the suspected attackers and the final number of people abducted remain unconfirmed.
