Imo Abduction: 10 Rescued As Kidnappers Demand ₦950m For 19 NYSC-Bound Graduates

Ten passengers have been rescued following the abduction of travellers along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State, as families of 19 prospective National Youth Service Corps members reportedly face a ₦950 million ransom demand.

The victims were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen attacked two commercial buses around Umunoha in Imo State on Thursday.

According to the Defence Headquarters, the buses were conveying about 30 passengers when the attackers intercepted them and abducted 20 people. Troops of Operation UDO KA, working with the police and other security agencies, subsequently rescued 10 passengers, including eight prospective corps members.

The Imo State Police Command had earlier confirmed the rescue of 10 victims and recovery of the two buses, while saying that security operatives were continuing the search for those still in captivity.

The police initially said the exact number of abducted passengers was still being verified, but the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has since deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, and two Commissioners of Police to coordinate the search-and-rescue operation.

Meanwhile, Saturday PUNCH reported that kidnappers had demanded ₦50 million each for 19 prospective corps members, translating to a total ransom of ₦950 million.

The Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, Isiah Akpan, confirmed that the two buses belonged to his company and were carrying graduates heading to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom.

Akpan said the buses departed Ibadan on Wednesday but were delayed by traffic around Benin, Edo State, before reaching Onitsha, Anambra State, later in the day.

According to him, the buses resumed the journey around 5am on Thursday and had barely entered Imo State when gunmen emerged from the bush and blocked both vehicles.

He said the attackers took 19 passengers into the bush, while the drivers escaped and alerted security personnel.

The reported ₦950 million ransom demand has heightened anxiety among the families of the abducted graduates, with some reportedly receiving direct communications from the kidnappers.

Security agencies have intensified operations to locate the remaining victims and apprehend the attackers. The police said additional tactical teams and operational assets had been deployed, supported by intelligence-led tracking and coordination with other security agencies.

The Oyo State Government has also expressed concern over the incident, saying it was working with security agencies, the Imo State Government and NYSC leadership to secure the safe release of the affected corps members.

The state government said Governor Seyi Makinde had directed that necessary resources be deployed towards efforts to rescue the victims and reunite them with their families.

The Owerri-Onitsha highway has since been reopened to traffic, while security personnel remain deployed around the affected area as the search for the remaining victims continues.