NYSC kidnap victims have been freed in Imo after seven days in captivity as police intensify efforts to arrest the abductors

Twenty prospective National Youth Service Corps members kidnapped while travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their orientation camps in the South-East have regained their freedom after seven days in captivity, with security agencies now intensifying efforts to apprehend their abductors.

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The victims were rescued on Wednesday, October 7, at Amakohia Ubi Village in Imo State, following sustained search-and-rescue operations involving the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.

The police confirmed that the rescued graduates had been taken for medical assessment and necessary care.

The development brings relief to families who had spent a week anxiously waiting for the safe return of their loved ones after the travellers were intercepted by gunmen along the Owerri-Onitsha Road.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, said the Nigeria Police Force, working with sister security agencies, successfully rescued the 20 prospective corps members.

The operation culminated at Amakohia Ubi, where the victims were recovered after days of coordinated efforts to locate them.

According to the police, the rescued graduates were immediately taken for medical examination and necessary treatment.

However, the authorities have not disclosed detailed information about the operation, including whether any ransom was paid or whether any suspected kidnapper was arrested during the rescue.

The police said efforts remained ongoing to track down and arrest those responsible for the abduction.

“The Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with sister security agencies, has rescued the 20 prospective NYSC corps members abducted in Imo State on 1st October 2026,” the Force said.

It added that operations would continue until all those responsible were brought to justice.

Following their rescue, the prospective corps members were taken to the Department of State Services Hospital in Owerri for medical attention and further checks.

The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, visited the facility to meet the rescued victims.

He was accompanied by the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, the Director of the DSS in the state and the Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade.

Reports said Nafiu addressed the victims during the visit as authorities assessed their condition following their ordeal in captivity.

The victims were among prospective corps members travelling from Ibadan to orientation camps in the South-East and South-South when two buses came under attack on October 1.

The attack occurred along the Owerri-Onitsha Road around Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.

The two buses were carrying graduates travelling towards orientation camps in Bende, Abia State, and Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The abduction prompted an immediate security response, with tactical teams and other security agencies deployed to locate the victims and their captors.

Police had initially confirmed the rescue of 10 people shortly after the attack while investigations continued to establish the full number of abductees.

The remaining victims were subsequently located and rescued after sustained search-and-rescue operations.

The kidnapping had also triggered intense concern among the victims’ families after the abductors reportedly demanded N50 million for each victim.

With 20 prospective corps members in captivity, the initial demand amounted to N1 billion.

The kidnappers later reportedly reduced the demand to N5 million per person, bringing the total ransom demand to N100 million.

Families of the abducted graduates subsequently appealed to traditional leaders and government authorities to intensify efforts to secure their children’s release.

The eventual rescue has therefore brought considerable relief to relatives who had endured days of uncertainty.

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, commended the security agencies for what he described as their swift and coordinated intervention.

The governor said his administration deliberately avoided releasing sensitive information about the operation because doing so could have jeopardised the rescue effort.

He said the discreet approach adopted by the government and security agencies was necessary to protect the lives of the victims and ensure their safe return.

Uzodimma also expressed appreciation to the parents and families of the prospective corps members for their patience and understanding throughout the ordeal.

He assured residents that the government would continue to support measures aimed at protecting lives and property and maintaining peace across the state.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, also confirmed the release of the abducted graduates.

Ladoja said Governor Uzodimma informed him of the development during a telephone conversation on Wednesday evening.

The traditional ruler expressed relief over the safe return of the victims, while the families of the abducted graduates welcomed the news with a mixture of joy and caution.

One parent, Alhaja Alimot Akande, said the family was overwhelmed by the development and preferred to see or speak with the victim before making further comments.

Despite the successful rescue, the security operation is not over.

The Nigeria Police Force said its personnel, alongside other security agencies, were continuing coordinated operations aimed at identifying and apprehending the masterminds of the abduction.

The police also appealed for continued cooperation from members of the public as efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice continue.

The rescue of the 20 prospective corps members has ended their immediate ordeal, but the incident has once again raised concerns about the safety of travellers along the Owerri-Onitsha corridor.

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For the families, however, the most urgent concern has been answered: their loved ones are alive, receiving medical attention and finally out of captivity.