Security agencies have intensified efforts to rescue 19 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps who were abducted by gunmen in Imo State while travelling to their orientation camps.
The victims were reportedly travelling in two commercial buses from Ibadan to destinations in Akwa Ibom and Abia states when armed men attacked the vehicles in Umunoha, Ogbaku, within Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday at a stretch of road commonly referred to as “No Man’s Land,” an area that has witnessed security concerns in the past.
Authorities say a coordinated operation involving the Imo State Police Command and the Nigerian Army’s 34 Artillery Brigade is underway to locate and rescue the victims.
Police spokesperson DSP Henry Okoye disclosed that security personnel have continued to narrow down the search area and are working to secure the release of the abducted travellers.
Similarly, the military confirmed that efforts are being coordinated among multiple security agencies to ensure a successful rescue operation.
Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, revealed that security operatives have already identified the location where the victims are believed to be held. According to him, surveillance drones were deployed to track the movement of the kidnappers and establish the coordinates of the suspected camp.
However, he explained that intelligence reports suggested the hideout had been fortified with improvised explosive devices, forcing security forces to proceed cautiously to avoid casualties among both the victims and rescue personnel.
Bosso said preparations were ongoing to deploy specialised equipment, including armoured vehicles and bulldozers, to safely penetrate the area and neutralise any threats before attempting a rescue.
Meanwhile, the kidnappers have reportedly contacted some relatives of the victims and demanded ₦50 million for each captive, bringing the total ransom demand to ₦950 million.
The development has sparked anxiety among families of the prospective corps members, many of whom had been travelling to begin their mandatory national service programme. Concerned relatives have continued to appeal to government authorities and security agencies to ensure the safe return of their loved ones.
The abduction has once again highlighted growing concerns over the safety of interstate travellers and the persistent threat posed by criminal groups operating along major routes in parts of the country.
