Twenty prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State have been rescued by security operatives, six days after the attack.
A security source confirmed the rescue on Wednesday, disclosing that the operation was carried out by a joint team of the Department of State Services (DSS), the military and the Nigeria Police Force.
“The rescued corps members are currently receiving medical attention at a DSS facility in Imo State,” the source said.
The victims were among passengers intercepted by gunmen at Umunoha on October 1 while travelling in two buses from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The Imo State Police Command had earlier confirmed that NYSC members were among those abducted when the gunmen attacked the buses at about 6:30am. Police said 10 victims were rescued at the scene, while efforts continued to determine how many people remained in captivity.
The attack triggered a coordinated search involving several security agencies after the victims were taken into the bush. Police drones were reportedly used to locate the kidnappers’ hideout.
Imo Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, had said operatives tracked the abductors to a location but could not immediately enter the area after intelligence indicated the camp had been rigged with improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Police subsequently prepared to deploy additional assets, including bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers, to reach the victims safely.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, also deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of operations, Shehu Nadada, to coordinate the rescue mission in Imo.
The abduction caused widespread concern, especially among the families of the affected graduates. Reports had indicated that the kidnappers demanded ransom from the families, with the initial demand reportedly put at N50 million per victim.
The rescue ends the immediate ordeal of the 20 prospective corps members, who were travelling to begin their mandatory national service when the incident occurred. It also underscores the role of coordinated intelligence and joint operations in securing the release of kidnap victims.
However, details of the rescue, including whether any arrests were made or whether ransom was paid, were not immediately available. The security agencies are expected to provide further information on the operation and efforts to apprehend those responsible.
