Twenty prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State have regained their freedom after seven days in captivity.
The graduates were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their NYSC orientation camps when gunmen attacked two buses near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state.
The incident occurred on October 1, as the buses were heading towards orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The rescued victims have been taken to the Department of State Services Hospital in Owerri, where they are receiving medical attention following their release.
The development is expected to bring relief to their families, who had spent the past week seeking information about the whereabouts and safety of the young graduates.
The victims were among prospective corps members travelling to commence the national youth service programme when the attackers intercepted the two buses along the highway.
The incident triggered an extensive security operation involving the police, military, DSS and other security personnel.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, had earlier deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the search-and-rescue operation.
The deployment followed growing concerns over the safety of the abducted graduates and pressure from their families and community leaders for urgent action.
The abduction also generated controversy over the number of victims and the circumstances surrounding the initial rescue of some passengers.
The transport company’s managing director, Isiah Akpan, had initially reported that 19 prospective corps members were taken into the bush and that the kidnappers demanded N50m for each victim.
Later reports from the families put the number of abducted corps members at 20. The ransom demand was subsequently reduced to N5m per victim, bringing the reported demand to N100m.
Earlier, the Imo State Police Command had announced that 10 passengers were rescued after the attack, while relatives disputed the account, saying some of those who escaped had fled into the bush.
The conflicting accounts added to the uncertainty surrounding the attack as security agencies intensified their search for the remaining victims.
Reports also indicated that security forces had located a suspected hideout linked to the abductors but faced operational difficulties because of an alleged improvised explosive device threat in the area.
After days of sustained search operations, the release of the 20 prospective corps members represents a significant breakthrough.
The victims are now undergoing medical assessment in Owerri, while security agencies are expected to continue investigating the abduction and pursuing those responsible.
Further details on the circumstances of their release, their condition and possible arrests are expected from the authorities.
