Abductors who seized 19 prospective National Youth Service Corps members travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states have reportedly demanded a combined ransom of ₦950 million for their release.
The victims were among passengers travelling in two buses operated by Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited when gunmen intercepted the vehicles along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in the Umunoha area of Imo State on Thursday.
The Managing Director of the transport company, Isiah Akpan, told The PUNCH that the abductors were demanding ₦50 million for each of the 19 prospective corps members. The reported demands were also made to some of the victims’ families through telephone calls.
Akpan said the buses departed from Bodija/Samonda Park in Ibadan on Wednesday but encountered heavy traffic around Benin, Edo State, delaying the journey. The vehicles eventually reached Onitsha in Anambra State late in the day, after which the drivers and passengers reportedly spent the night in Oba because they could not safely continue the journey.
The buses resumed their trip at about 5am on Thursday. According to Akpan, they had barely entered Imo State when armed men emerged from the bush, blocked the vehicles and took the 19 prospective corps members into a nearby bush.
The drivers reportedly escaped from the scene and alerted security personnel at a nearby checkpoint, prompting security agencies to begin a search operation.
Akpan said the initial response was complicated when some villagers allegedly prevented security personnel from moving the abandoned buses from the area, delaying the movement of the security teams pursuing the abductors. The buses were later left at the scene, with some of the passengers’ belongings still inside.
The Imo State Police Command subsequently said 10 victims had been rescued and that security agencies were continuing efforts to locate those still missing. However, police spokesperson Henry Okoye could not immediately confirm whether the 10 rescued persons were among the prospective corps members abducted from the two buses.
The reported ransom demands have heightened anxiety among the families of the affected graduates. One parent told The PUNCH that the abductors contacted her through her son’s phone and demanded ₦50 million for his release.
Another mother, identified as Mrs Oladosu, said the abductors contacted her family using her daughter Greatness’ phone. She said the family was able to see Greatness and other prospective corps members during a video call, with the victims reportedly sitting together in the bush.
The mother of another victim, Akande Farouq, also reportedly received a distress message from her son after he was abducted. Farouq, who had been posted to Abia State, sent the word “Kidnappers!” to his family WhatsApp group before his phone line went dead, according to his mother.
A manifest from the two buses reportedly listed 30 passengers, although the transport company said the 19 prospective corps members were taken into the bush. Two other buses operated by the same company and travelling towards Abia State reportedly escaped the attack.
Friends and associates of some of the affected graduates have also turned to social media to appeal for assistance and draw attention to the abduction, as security agencies continue their search for the remaining victims.
The Oyo State Government has condemned the incident and said Governor Seyi Makinde directed that all necessary resources be deployed towards securing the safe return of the affected prospective corps members.
The state government said it was communicating with security agencies, the Imo State Government and NYSC leadership as part of efforts to coordinate a response to the incident. It also urged affected families to remain calm while calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the victims and apprehend those responsible.
The Imo abduction has renewed concerns over the security of graduates travelling across state lines for NYSC orientation programmes. The incident comes only weeks after another group of prospective corps members was abducted while travelling through Kogi State, although those victims were subsequently rescued by security forces.
Security analysts quoted by The PUNCH have called for stronger protection arrangements for prospective corps members travelling through known kidnapping corridors. Some have also suggested reviewing NYSC deployment practices in light of security conditions along major interstate routes.
The Police is yet to confirm the reported ₦950 million ransom demand as at the time of this report. The demand was reported from the transport company and affected families while security agencies continue efforts to establish the full circumstances of the attack and secure the release of the victims.
As of October 3, 2026, the operation to locate the abducted prospective corps members remains ongoing.
Source references:
- The PUNCH, October 3, 2026;
- THISDAY, October 3, 2026;
- Premium Times, October 1–2, 2026.
