Gunmen Abduct 20 NYSC Members in Imo
Gunmen have reportedly abducted 20 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members travelling along the Owerri–Onitsha Road in the Umunoha area of Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Imo State.
The victims were said to be travelling in a commercial bus from Ibadan, Oyo State, to various NYSC orientation camps in the South-East and South-South when the vehicle was intercepted by the armed men.
The Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with Channels Television.
Okoye said the Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, had visited the scene to assess the situation, while security agencies intensified efforts to rescue the corps members safely.
He said operatives were searching surrounding bushes and that a Rapid Response Team had been deployed to track the attackers and secure the victims’ release.
The latest incident has renewed concerns over the safety of corps members travelling to their places of primary assignment and orientation camps, particularly along routes affected by insecurity.
It also comes weeks after security agencies rescued 11 people, including an unspecified number of NYSC members, following an attack on vehicles along the Aloma–Egane Expressway.
The earlier attack occurred at about 4:40 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26, around Ogene Zaria, near the Ogene Zaria–Onicha-Igo Junction.
The armed attackers reportedly emerged from the bush, blocked two buses travelling in opposite directions and abducted some passengers, while others escaped into the surrounding bush.
The victims were subsequently rescued on August 31 by a joint operation involving the police, military, Department of State Services and other security personnel.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, said the corps members were rescued from Egume Forest in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State following a coordinated security operation.
President Bola Tinubu subsequently commended the security agencies and local vigilantes involved in the rescue operation, which recovered 21 abductees, comprising eight males and 13 females, from the kidnappers’ hideout in the Ofu forests.
As efforts continue to locate the 20 corps members abducted in Imo, security agencies are expected to intensify operations in the surrounding areas and work towards securing their safe and unconditional release.
