Families of Abducted NYSC Corps Members Given 24 Hours to Raise Ransom
Families of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway have reportedly been given 24 hours to raise ransom for the release of their loved ones.
The victims were among passengers abducted when two buses travelling from Ibadan to different orientation camps and destinations in the South-East and South-South came under attack near the Umunoha axis of Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
The families disclosed the ransom demand during a visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at his Bodija residence on Saturday, where they also appealed to the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji, for urgent intervention.
According to the parents, the kidnappers contacted them through the mobile phones of the abducted prospective corps members and demanded ransom for their release.
The families said the kidnappers had threatened to harm the victims if their demands were not met within the 24-hour deadline.
Speaking on behalf of the affected families, Alhaja Alimot Akande and Oyebola Michael Akande appealed to the Olubadan and the police authorities to intervene and help secure the immediate release of the abducted corps members.
“They have been calling us since yesterday with a demand for N50 million ransom each. They are threatening that anything untoward will happen to our children if we fail to heed their request,” the parents said.
“There is no way we can raise such amount at this period. Baba, kindly assist us. Don’t let them kill our children.”
The parents’ account comes as security agencies intensify efforts to locate and rescue the remaining victims following the attack.
Earlier, the Imo State Police Command disclosed that security operatives had traced the suspected kidnappers to a forest camp using drone surveillance and other intelligence-gathering methods.
Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, said operatives followed the suspects into the bush before drones were used to establish the coordinates of the suspected hideout.
“Yesterday we were in the bush; we trailed them up to a particular location. But at that point in time, we couldn’t move in to where the coordinates showed us where they are,” Bosso said.
The police commissioner explained that the suspected presence of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) around the hideout had made it difficult for security personnel to immediately enter the area.
“But our predicament is that with the intel we have, the camp is mined with IEDs,” he said.
Bosso said security agencies were preparing to approach the location with specialised equipment and protected vehicles to minimise the danger to the rescue teams.
“We are moving in there with high-velocity vehicles. We are moving with bulldozers and APCs to see how we are going to rescue these victims,” he added.
The attack occurred when two buses carrying prospective corps members and other passengers were travelling from Ibadan towards Uyo in Akwa Ibom State and Bende in Abia State. The vehicles were intercepted around the Umunoha area of Mbaitoli Local Government Area.
Following the attack, police and other security personnel recovered both buses and rescued 10 passengers at the scene. However, several other passengers were taken into the surrounding bush by the attackers.
The Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, said tactical units and personnel from other security agencies had been deployed to locate the remaining victims and apprehend the suspects.
“Two buses, conveying NYSC corps members and other passengers from Ibadan to Uyo, and Bende in Abia, respectively, were attacked by suspected armed men,” Okoye said.
“Following a swift response by the Police and other security agencies, both buses have been recovered and 10 victims were rescued at the scene.”
Okoye said the rescued victims were safe and receiving the necessary assistance, while security operatives continued intelligence-led operations in the area.
“Operatives are conducting coordinated search and rescue operations, backed by intelligence-led tracking of the suspects,” he added.
The Defence Headquarters later said 20 passengers had been taken from the two buses, including prospective NYSC corps members. It said 10 victims, including eight prospective corps members, had subsequently been rescued.
Troops under Operation Udoka are working with the police and the Department of State Services, with aerial support from the Nigerian Air Force, to locate and rescue those still in captivity.
