OWERRI, NIGERIA — Gunmen have intercepted commercial buses along the Owerri–Onitsha Road near the Umunoha community in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, abducting approximately 20 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers.
The victims were traveling from Ibadan, Oyo State, heading toward orientation camps in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and Bende, Abia State, when armed men ambushed the vehicles.
Police Launch Rescue Operation
Spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, DSP Henry Okoye, confirmed the abduction, disclosing that joint security forces intervened at the scene and immediately rescued 10 of the passengers.
Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, alongside senior security commanders, visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment. Tactical teams, operational assets, and local security units have been deployed to comb surrounding forests and bushes to track down the fleeing attackers and rescue those still held captive.
Safety Concerns Heighten
The police command stated it is coordinating directly with the NYSC Directorate to contact the families of the affected corps members and provide updates as search-and-rescue operations progress.
The incident has renewed deep concerns among parents, guardians, and corps members over the security of young graduates traveling long distances across state lines to fulfill their mandatory national service.
