The Imo State Police Command has rescued 10 victims abducted by gunmen from two buses travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to different NYSC orientation camps in the South-East.

The buses, conveying prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers, came under attack at about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 1, near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.

The victims were rescued during a joint search-and-rescue operation launched after the attack, with the police saying efforts were ongoing to locate other victims and apprehend the suspected kidnappers.

Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, confirmed the rescue in a statement, saying the recovered victims were safe and receiving attention.

“The rescued victims are in safe hands and are being attended to. The exact number of persons abducted is being verified and will be made public once confirmed,” Okoye said.

The two buses were reportedly travelling from Ibadan to Uyo in Akwa Ibom State and Bende in Abia State, where the prospective corps members were expected to report for their NYSC orientation programmes.

Initial reports indicated that about 20 corps members were abducted, although the police said the exact number of people taken by the gunmen was still being established.

Following the attack, tactical teams and other security personnel were deployed to the area for coordinated searches and intelligence-led tracking of the suspected abductors.

The Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Audu Bosso, also visited the scene alongside other service commanders to assess the situation and direct the ongoing operation.

The police said the affected section of the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway had been reopened to traffic, while security personnel remained in the area to protect commuters.

The command also said it was working with the NYSC directorate to contact families of affected corps members and provide updates as the operation continues.

It urged members of the public to remain calm and vigilant, while encouraging anyone with credible information that could assist the operation to contact security agencies, assuring that such information would be treated confidentially.

The Imo State Police Command has rescued 10 victims abducted by gunmen from two buses travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to different NYSC orientation camps in the South-East.

The buses, conveying prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers, came under attack at about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 1, near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.

The victims were rescued during a joint search-and-rescue operation launched after the attack, with the police saying efforts were ongoing to locate other victims and apprehend the suspected kidnappers.

Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, confirmed the rescue in a statement, saying the recovered victims were safe and receiving attention.

“The rescued victims are in safe hands and are being attended to. The exact number of persons abducted is being verified and will be made public once confirmed,” Okoye said.

The two buses were reportedly travelling from Ibadan to Uyo in Akwa Ibom State and Bende in Abia State, where the prospective corps members were expected to report for their NYSC orientation programmes.

Initial reports indicated that about 20 corps members were abducted, although the police said the exact number of people taken by the gunmen was still being established.

Following the attack, tactical teams and other security personnel were deployed to the area for coordinated searches and intelligence-led tracking of the suspected abductors.

The Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Audu Bosso, also visited the scene alongside other service commanders to assess the situation and direct the ongoing operation.

The police said the affected section of the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway had been reopened to traffic, while security personnel remained in the area to protect commuters.

The command also said it was working with the NYSC directorate to contact families of affected corps members and provide updates as the operation continues.

It urged members of the public to remain calm and vigilant, while encouraging anyone with credible information that could assist the operation to contact security agencies, assuring that such information would be treated confidentially.