Imo State police confirm abduction of NYSC candidates — Premium Times Nigeria

Police in Nigeria’s Imo State have confirmed the abduction of candidates for the country’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and other passengers after armed men attacked two buses. The buses were travelling from Ibadan in Oyo State to orientation camps in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and Bende, Abia State.

As Premium Times Nigeria reports, the attack occurred at about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday on the Owerri–Onitsha road near Umunoha in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.

Ten people rescued

According to police, law enforcement officers and other security agencies rescued ten people at the scene. Police said the rescued individuals are safe and receiving the necessary assistance. The exact number of people who remain captive is still being verified.

Law enforcement agencies are conducting a coordinated search-and-rescue operation and tracking the suspects using intelligence information. The state police commissioner, together with other agency heads, visited the scene of the attack. Police are also working with NYSC management to contact the families of the affected candidates and keep them informed about the progress of the operation.

More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.

Relatives search for passengers

One parent said in a video that her daughter, who was travelling to a camp in Abia State, had been sending her family geolocation data through a WhatsApp group. According to her, after 6 a.m., the girl wrote the word “kidnapper” in the chat and then stopped communicating.

The relative also said that the family later learned about the abduction of the passengers and the bus driver, while some passengers from the other bus managed to escape. Police stated that they would continue the operation until all those affected are freed and the suspects are detained.

The attack in Imo State occurred several weeks after an attack on a highway in Kogi State. On 26 August, armed men attacked passengers near Ogene-Zaria on the Aloma–Egane expressway. Police later reported the rescue of 11 people, including NYSC members.