Imo police confirm abduction of corps members and passengers

The Imo State Police Command has confirmed that prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers were abducted after gunmen attacked two buses travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to orientation camps in the South-east and South-south. Police Public Relations Officer Okoye Henry said in a statement that the attack occurred at about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday along the Owerri-Onitsha Road, near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area.

According to the command, one bus was carrying passengers travelling to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, while the other was heading to Bende, Abia State. Police and other security agencies intervened at the scene and rescued 10 people. The command said it was still verifying the exact number of people who had been taken.

It said the rescued victims were safe and receiving attention, adding that details of those still missing would be released once confirmed. Mr Henry said operatives were conducting coordinated search-and-rescue operations, supported by intelligence-led efforts to track the suspected abductors. The Commissioner of Police and other service commanders also visited the scene to assess the incident and direct the response.

The police said the operation would continue until all victims were recovered and the suspects arrested. It added that officers were working with NYSC authorities to contact the families of affected corps members and provide updates. Families were meanwhile trying to establish the whereabouts of their relatives.

One parent said her daughter, who was travelling to an orientation camp in Abia, sent the word “kidnapper” to a family WhatsApp group after sharing her live location. Calls initially connected but later stopped reaching the phone. The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of prospective corps members travelling to orientation camps.

The source also recalled that corps members were among 11 people rescued after a separate highway abduction in Kogi State.