A prospective National Youth Service Corps member reportedly sent a one-word message, “kidnapper,” to her family shortly before her phone became unreachable during an attack on two buses in Imo State.
The incident occurred at about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 1, along the Owerri-Onitsha Road near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area.
The Imo State Police Command confirmed that two buses travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, towards Uyo in Akwa Ibom State and Bende in Abia State were intercepted by suspected armed men.
Prospective NYSC members were among the passengers. While an initial report put the number of abducted corps members at about 20, the transport company said the two buses had 30 passengers in total, with 15 people in each vehicle.
According to the company, 20 prospective corps members travelling to the Akwa Ibom orientation camp were taken, while the remaining 10 passengers were left behind and later transported safely to the camp.
However, the police have not independently confirmed the figure. The Imo State Police spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye, said authorities were still working to establish the exact number of people abducted.
Police confirmed that 10 victims were rescued following the intervention of security agencies and that both buses were recovered. The rescued victims were reportedly safe and receiving necessary attention.
Security agencies have also commenced an intelligence-led search for those still missing, with tactical teams deployed to locate the victims and apprehend the suspected attackers.
The Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso, visited the scene alongside other security commanders to assess the situation and coordinate the ongoing operation.
One parent, in a Facebook video, claimed that her daughter had been travelling to an NYSC orientation camp and had been sharing her location with the family through WhatsApp.
The parent alleged that shortly after 6 a.m., her daughter sent the word “kidnapper” before her phone became unreachable. The police have not independently verified the account.
The incident occurred as prospective corps members were travelling to commence the 2026 Batch C Stream I orientation exercise.
The abduction has raised renewed concerns about the safety of young graduates travelling across the country for NYSC orientation, particularly following another highway abduction involving prospective corps members in Kogi State in August.
The police said the search operation would continue until the remaining victims are located, while the identities of the attackers and the final number of abducted passengers remain under investigation.
