Imo police confirm abduction of prospective corps members travelling from Ibadan
Imo State police are conducting a search and rescue operation following the abduction of prospective National Youth Service Corps members by gunmen on the Owerri-Onitsha Road. While 10 victims have been rescued, authorities are working to confirm the total number of individuals still held captive.
Why it matters
This incident highlights ongoing security challenges in Nigeria and the risks faced by young citizens traveling to mandatory national service orientation camps.
The Imo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers after gunmen attacked two buses travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to orientation camps in the South-east and South-south.
The command in a statement signed by its Police Public Relations Officer, Okoye Henry, said the attack occurred at about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday along the Owerri-Onitsha Road near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
According to the police, the two buses were carrying prospective corps members and other passengers travelling to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and Bende, Abia State, respectively.
The command said 10 victims were rescued at the scene following the intervention of the police and other security agencies, while the exact number of people still in captivity was being verified.
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