A journey that should have ended with young Nigerians reporting for National Youth Service Corps orientation camps turned into a frightening ordeal on Thursday morning after gunmen attacked two buses carrying prospective corps members and other passengers along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-IDRI-Masterclass.png")
The attack occurred at about 6:30 a.m. near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area, where the two commercial buses travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, were intercepted by armed men.
One of the buses was heading to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, while the other was travelling to Bende, Abia State, with prospective corps members expected to report at their respective NYSC orientation camps.
The Imo State Police Command confirmed the attack, saying 10 victims were rescued following the intervention of security operatives, while efforts were continuing to determine the number of people still being held by the abductors.
“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,” Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, said.
The police said the two buses involved in the attack had also been recovered, while security teams continued searching the surrounding areas for those still missing.
The incident immediately triggered a joint security response involving the police and other agencies.
According to the command, operatives launched coordinated search-and-rescue operations supported by intelligence-led tracking in an attempt to locate the abductors and recover the remaining passengers.
The Commissioner of Police and other security service commanders also visited the scene to assess the situation and give operational directions to officers involved in the rescue effort.
“Operatives are conducting coordinated search and rescue operations, backed by intelligence-led tracking of the suspects,” the police said.
“The Commissioner of Police, alongside other Service Commanders, visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment and to give operational direction. He assured the public that the Command will sustain the operation until all victims are safely recovered and the suspects are brought to justice.”
The Nigerian Army later said troops of Operation UDO KA, working with other security agencies, had also responded to the abduction and were continuing to trail the attackers.
An operational report said personnel of the Army’s 34 Artillery Brigade were working alongside the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, police and SSS in the rescue operation. The military report also put the number of rescued prospective corps members at 10.
For families waiting at home, however, the hours after the attack were filled with uncertainty.
One parent whose daughter was travelling to the NYSC orientation camp in Abia State said the young woman had been sharing her live location with family members through WhatsApp throughout the journey from Ibadan.
Shortly after 6 a.m., according to the parent, the daughter suddenly typed just one word into the family group: “kidnapper.”
Family members immediately tried calling her.
The phone initially rang, but she did not answer. It later became unreachable.
“She quickly typed ‘kidnapper’, and we tried to call immediately to see what happened. Since then, she has been offline,” the parent said while appealing for help.
The family later received information that the driver and some passengers in the vehicle had been taken away, while some people in the second bus managed to escape.
The police said it was working with NYSC authorities to reach the families of affected prospective corps members and keep them informed as the operation continued.
The attack has again placed attention on the risks faced by young graduates required to travel long distances across the country to report for national service.
Many prospective corps members travel overnight or for several hours by road after receiving postings to states far from where they live or studied.
Thursday’s attack came only weeks after another incident involving corps members travelling through Kogi State.
On August 26, armed men attacked vehicles around the Ogene Zaria-Onicha-Igo axis along the Aloma-Egane Expressway. Police subsequently rescued 11 people, including NYSC members and drivers, while continuing operations for other abducted passengers.
The latest incident in Imo has therefore renewed concerns among parents and prospective corps members over the security of road journeys to and from orientation camps.
For now, authorities have not announced the total number of people still missing from the two buses, and the police have cautioned that the figure is still being verified.
The identities of those still being held have also not been officially released.
What authorities have confirmed is that 10 victims have been brought to safety, the two buses have been recovered and a multi-agency security operation remains underway to find the others and arrest those responsible.
For the families whose children and relatives have yet to make contact, the focus remains on one outcome: their safe return.
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation
______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
