*File picture of NYSC members.
Twenty prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and one civilian abducted in Imo State have been rescued in a coordinated intelligence-led operation by Nigerian security agencies.
The victims were freed on Wednesday, 7 October 2026 from the Amakohia-Ubi forest in Owerri West Local Government Area and are receiving medical attention at the Department of State Services (DSS) Hospital in Owerri.
The group was attacked on 1 October 2026 (Nigeria’s Independence Day) while travelling in two commercial buses from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states. Gunmen intercepted the vehicles near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area along the Owerri-Onitsha Road and marched the victims into the bush.
Security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, military, DSS and other formations, immediately launched a joint search-and-rescue operation. Early reports indicated that about 10 people were rescued or escaped shortly after the attack, with the two buses recovered. The remaining 20 prospective corps members and one civilian remained in captivity until their rescue on Wednesday.
Imo State Commissioner of Police Audu Bosso later confirmed that operatives had located the suspected kidnappers’ camp using drones after trailing the abductors into the forest. However, intelligence indicated the site was mined with improvised explosive devices (IEDs), delaying an immediate assault. Security forces prepared heavy equipment, including bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers, to enable a safer approach.
During captivity, the abductors reportedly demanded an initial ransom of ₦50 million per victim (totalling about ₦1 billion). The demand was later reduced to ₦5 million each (₦100 million total).
Families faced intense pressure and anxiety; some parents publicly appealed for government intervention. Details on whether any ransom was paid or whether suspects were arrested during the final rescue remain unclear as at the time of filing this report.
NYSC Director-General Brigadier-General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu has visited the DSS hospital in Owerri to meet the rescued victims and assess their condition. He was accompanied by the Imo State Commissioner of Police, the state DSS Director, and the Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade.
The Nigeria Police Force later officially confirmed the rescue, stating that efforts continue to apprehend those responsible. Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma also commended the inter-agency collaboration that secured the victims’ safe release.