Twenty prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who were abducted while travelling to their orientation camps have regained their freedom after spending seven days in captivity in Imo State.
The victims were rescued on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at Amakohia-Ubi Village in Owerri West Local Government Area of the state, following a sustained search-and-rescue operation involving the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.
The prospective corps members had been travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their respective NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen reportedly intercepted the two buses conveying them along the Owerri-Onitsha Road on October 1.
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According to reports, the attack occurred around the Umunoha area of Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Imo State.
Following the abduction, security agencies launched operations to locate the victims and apprehend the kidnappers.
The Nigeria Police Force later said intelligence gathering and drone surveillance helped security operatives identify the location of the suspected kidnappers’ hideout.
However, efforts to immediately reach the location were reportedly delayed after security personnel discovered that the area was allegedly planted with improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Additional security resources were subsequently deployed as the operation to reach the victims continued.
The victims were eventually rescued at about 4:28 p.m. on Wednesday at Amakohia-Ubi Village.
After their rescue, the 20 prospective corps members were taken to a Department of State Services (DSS) medical facility in Owerri, where they received medical attention and underwent necessary medical checks.
The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, also visited the facility to meet with the rescued victims. He was accompanied by the Imo State Commissioner of Police, the Director of the DSS and the Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade in the state.
Ransom Claims Emerge
The circumstances surrounding the payment of ransom remain unclear, with different accounts emerging following the release of the victims.
Earlier reports said the kidnappers demanded ₦50 million for each of the 20 victims, which would have amounted to ₦1 billion.
Some reports subsequently said the demand was reduced to ₦5 million per victim, bringing the reported total to ₦100 million.
However, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Bosso, said he was not aware that ransom had been paid for the release of the victims. According to him, the kidnappers eventually succumbed to pressure from security agencies operating in the area.
Meanwhile, a mother of one of the rescued prospective corps members separately claimed that ₦6 million was paid to secure her son’s release.
The differing accounts mean that the exact circumstances surrounding any ransom payment have not been officially established.
Security Agencies Continue Search for Kidnappers
Following the successful rescue, security agencies have intensified efforts to identify and apprehend the suspects responsible for the abduction.
The police said operations would continue until those behind the attack are brought to justice.
The rescue has brought relief to the families of the 20 prospective corps members, who had spent a week waiting for news of their loved ones.
The incident has also renewed concerns about the safety of young Nigerians travelling to NYSC orientation camps, particularly along routes where kidnapping remains a security challenge.
For the rescued victims, however, Wednesday’s operation marked the end of seven days of captivity and their return to safety.
Watch Video of Rescued NYSC Corps Members:
