Gunmen who abducted 19 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their respective orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states have reportedly demanded a total ransom of N950 million for their release.
The victims were kidnapped on Thursday along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State, after gunmen intercepted two buses conveying them to their NYSC orientation camps. The buses, operated by Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, were travelling from Ibadan when the attack occurred.
The Managing Director of the transport company, Isiah Akpan, confirmed the incident to Saturday PUNCH, disclosing that the abductors demanded N50 million for each victim. The ransom demand has heightened anxiety among the victims’ families, who are appealing for their safe return.
According to Akpan, the two buses departed from Bodija/Samonda Park in Ibadan on Wednesday but were delayed by heavy traffic around Benin, Edo State. They eventually arrived in Onitsha, Anambra State, late that day but could not continue their journey because of the road conditions.
The drivers and passengers reportedly spent the night in Oba before resuming their journey at approximately 5 am on Thursday. However, shortly after entering Imo State, gunmen emerged from the surrounding bush, blocked both vehicles and abducted 19 passengers.
Akpan explained that the drivers managed to escape and alerted security personnel at a nearby checkpoint, prompting the police and military to launch a search operation.
He also alleged that the operation was initially delayed when some villagers prevented security personnel from removing the abandoned buses from the scene. The vehicles were eventually left behind, with passengers’ belongings scattered inside.
Imo Police Confirm Rescue Operation
The Imo State Police Command announced on Thursday night that 10 victims had been rescued following the abduction.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, said security agencies had launched a coordinated search operation and were pursuing the perpetrators to secure the release of the remaining victims.
However, Okoye could not confirm whether the 10 rescued individuals were among the abducted prospective corps members, leaving families uncertain about the fate of their loved ones.
The police and other security agencies were continuing efforts to locate the missing passengers and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
Families of Abducted NYSC Members in Panic Over N50m Ransom
The abduction has left families of the prospective corps members distressed, particularly after the kidnappers reportedly contacted them to demand N50 million for each victim.
A parent of one of the abducted graduates, who spoke anonymously to Saturday PUNCH for security reasons, disclosed that the kidnappers contacted her using her son’s phone and demanded N50 million for his release.
Another mother, Mrs Oladosu, whose daughter, Greatness, was travelling to Uyo, said the abductors briefly contacted the family through her daughter’s phone.
She disclosed that the family was able to see Greatness and other abducted corps members during a video call, with the victims reportedly sitting on the ground in the bush and crying.
Oladosu expressed concern over the huge ransom demand, questioning how ordinary families, including petty traders, could raise N50 million to secure the release of their children.
Similarly, Mrs Alimotu Akanke, the mother of another victim, Akande Farouq, said she had been monitoring her son’s journey when she received a distress message from him.
Farouq, who was posted to Abia State, reportedly managed to send a one-word message, “Kidnappers!”, to his family’s WhatsApp group before his phone became unreachable.
A manifest from the two affected buses reportedly listed 30 passengers, with 15 assigned to each vehicle. Two other buses belonging to the same transport company and travelling towards Abia State reportedly escaped the attack.
Among the passengers listed on the manifest were Akande Kehinde, Olaleye Mary, Oladosu Greatness, Obafunsho Rhoda, Abdulrof Anifat, Esther Oyede, Hassan Usman, Ayomide Isa, Mary Makinde, Azeez Adejoke and Abdulrazaq Anifat.
Friends Launch Social Media Campaigns for Victims’ Rescue
Friends and associates of the abducted prospective corps members have launched social media campaigns to seek public support and draw attention to the incident.
One of the victims, Precious Oladipupo, was identified as a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University.
A social media user, Adebayo, with the X handle @Adebayoakim1, appealed for support for the safe release of Wahab Ayandare, whom he identified as one of the abducted passengers.
Another user, Akinlabi Abayomi, known as @Mubiiiiin, called for assistance to secure the release of Oyindamola Adeoye, who was also reportedly among the victims.
Abayomi disclosed that the kidnappers had demanded N50 million for her release, adding to concerns over the financial burden facing the affected families.
Oyo Government Condemns Abduction
The Oyo State Government has condemned the abduction, describing the incident as distressing and reprehensible.
The state’s Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, disclosed the government’s position in a statement issued in Ibadan on Friday.
Oyelade said Governor Seyi Makinde had directed that all necessary resources be deployed to ensure the safe return of the abducted prospective corps members.
According to him, the Oyo State Government was in close communication with relevant security agencies, the Imo State Government and the NYSC leadership to coordinate efforts towards rescuing the victims.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to the safety and well-being of Oyo State indigenes, regardless of where they reside or carry out their national service.
It also appealed to the affected families to remain calm while urging security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the victims and arrest the perpetrators.
Rising Abductions of Prospective Corps Members Raise Security Concerns
The latest attack in Imo State has renewed concerns about the safety of prospective corps members travelling across the country to attend NYSC orientation camps.
The incident occurred 36 days after 15 prospective corps members travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja were abducted along the Aloma-Egane Expressway in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State on August 26.
Security operatives subsequently rescued the victims and other abductees from Egume Forest in Ofu LGA.
In May, an Abuja-based lawyer and corps member, Eunice Ameh, was abducted in Maitama, Abuja, but reportedly regained her freedom after a ransom was paid.
Similarly, corps member Musa Abba was abducted by bandits while travelling to Sokoto State in January, while Lateefah Binuyo was kidnapped in Kogi State while travelling to an orientation camp in Taraba State in January 2026. Binuyo reportedly regained her freedom after spending 10 days in captivity.
Her abduction prompted the Lagos State House of Assembly to call for improved security along major routes used by corps members.
Earlier incidents have also involved the abduction of 15 corps members in Anambra State in February 2023, who were subsequently rescued by the police, and the killing of a corps member during a gun battle between bandits and security operatives along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway in 2022.
A 2023 report by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism revealed that at least 80 corps members were abducted between 2013 and 2023, with Rivers State accounting for half of the recorded cases.
Findings by Saturday PUNCH also indicated that more than 20 corps members were killed in various attacks between 2015 and 2026.
The recurring incidents have raised concerns among parents, graduates and stakeholders about the security risks associated with interstate travel for NYSC mobilisation and deployment.
Security Experts Call for Review of NYSC Deployment Policy
Security analysts and education stakeholders have called for stronger protection measures and a review of the NYSC deployment policy in response to the recurring attacks on prospective corps members.
A security analyst, Chidi Omeje, suggested that criminal networks could be exploiting predictable NYSC mobilisation and deployment schedules to target young graduates travelling to their orientation camps.
Omeje urged the Federal Government and the NYSC to strengthen security arrangements, particularly along routes identified as kidnapping corridors.
He noted that criminals could obtain information about corps members’ movements during mobilisation periods and use it to plan attacks.
Another security expert, Olalekan Jackson-Ojo, said the recurring abductions were undermining the NYSC’s objective of promoting national integration.
He proposed allowing corps members to serve within their states or regions instead of deploying them to locations considered high-risk.
Jackson-Ojo warned that failing to adapt the deployment policy to prevailing security challenges could discourage graduates from participating in the scheme.
However, educationist Dele Olapeju called for improved security and protection measures rather than dismantling the NYSC programme.
Olapeju said the growing number of kidnappings was affecting public confidence in the scheme, with some parents increasingly seeking redeployment for their children because of security concerns.
He urged the government to prioritise the safety of corps members and avoid deploying them to high-risk areas.
Meanwhile, the NYSC had yet to officially respond to enquiries regarding the latest abduction as of press time. Its Director of Public Relations, Caroline Embu, had not responded to questions about the incident.
The abduction of the 19 prospective corps members has once again drawn attention to the security challenges confronting young Nigerian graduates travelling to fulfil their national service obligations, as their families await further information about rescue efforts and their safe return.
