Military, DSS, Police Rescue 20 Kidnapped Corps Members in Imo

The military, Department of State Services and Nigeria Police Force have rescued 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted in Imo State.

The victims were rescued on Wednesday following an intelligence-led operation involving the security agencies and other supporting formations. The rescue was confirmed by security sources, who said the freed corps members were receiving medical attention at a DSS facility in the state.

The prospective corps members were abducted on October 1 after gunmen intercepted two buses travelling along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in the Umunoha area of Imo State.

The victims were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when the attackers stopped the vehicles and took passengers into the bush.

Security agencies subsequently launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation to locate the victims and apprehend the abductors.

Earlier intelligence-led operations had enabled security personnel to identify the suspected kidnappers’ location. Police Commissioner Audu Bosso had disclosed that drone surveillance helped pinpoint the camp, but security agencies were unable to immediately move in after receiving intelligence that the area had been planted with improvised explosive devices.

The police had also deployed tactical teams and additional operational assets, including bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers, as the search intensified.

The operation was coordinated alongside other security formations after the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, deployed Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to oversee efforts to rescue the abducted travellers.

The abductors had reportedly demanded a ransom of N50 million for each of the victims, bringing the reported demand to N1 billion. Families had appealed to the authorities for urgent intervention and the safe release of their relatives.

The rescue brings relief to the families of the affected graduates, who had spent several days waiting for information about their safety.

Details of the operation, including whether any suspects were arrested and the exact location where the victims were found, had not been publicly disclosed at the time of reporting.

Security agencies are expected to continue investigations and efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible for the abduction.