Twenty prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who were abducted while travelling through Imo State have been rescued following sustained search-and-rescue operations by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.
The victims were recovered on Wednesday, October 7, at Amakohia Ubi Village in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, bringing relief to their families after several days in captivity.
The Nigeria Police Force confirmed the development in a statement issued by its Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu.
According to the police, the rescued prospective corps members have been taken for medical assessment and necessary care following their recovery.
How the NYSC Members Were Abducted
The prospective corps members were travelling from Ibadan in Oyo State to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when they were attacked in Imo State on October 1.
The victims were travelling in two buses when the attackers intercepted them around the Umunoha area of Mbaitoli Local Government Area along the Owerri-Onitsha route.
The incident triggered a coordinated security response as authorities worked to locate the abducted graduates and establish contact with the area where they were being held.
The abduction also generated concern among the victims' families and heightened security concerns for prospective corps members travelling to their orientation camps.
Security Agencies Intensify Search
Following the incident, security agencies sustained operations aimed at locating the victims and those responsible for the abduction.
Earlier in the search operation, the Imo State Police Command reported that surveillance had helped security operatives identify the suspected location where the victims were being held.
Authorities subsequently increased the deployment of personnel and operational equipment as efforts to reach the victims continued.
The latest operation eventually led to the recovery of the 20 prospective corps members at Amakohia Ubi on October 7.
Rescued Victims Receive Medical Attention
Following their recovery, the victims were taken for medical assessment and necessary care.
The NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, also visited the rescued prospective corps members at a DSS medical facility in Owerri.
He was accompanied by senior security officials, including the Imo State Commissioner of Police, the state Director of the Department of State Services and the Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade.
The visit came as authorities continued to assess the condition of the victims following their ordeal.
Police Begin Hunt for Suspects
Although the prospective corps members have been recovered, the security operation is continuing its efforts to apprehend those responsible for the abduction.
The police also said its collaboration with other security agencies would continue as authorities work to bring those responsible to justice.
The Force thanked members of the public for their cooperation and support during the operation and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property.
Relief for Families
The recovery of the 20 prospective corps members brings an end to days of uncertainty for their families and loved ones.
The incident, however, has renewed attention on the security challenges faced by Nigerians travelling on major highways, particularly young graduates moving to different parts of the country for national service.
For the rescued prospective corps members, the immediate priority remains their medical assessment and recovery after the experience.
Further details about the circumstances surrounding the abduction and the identities of those responsible are expected to emerge as security agencies continue their investigation.
247NewsCheck will continue to monitor the situation and publish verified updates as they become available.
