Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the abduction of prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State, calling for urgent action to secure the release of those still in captivity.

Atiku, a presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress ADC, made the call in a post on X on Monday, describing the incident as heartbreaking.

The victims were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen attacked two commercial buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in the Umunoha area of Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State on October 1.

Atiku said some of the victims had been rescued, but others remained in captivity, urging the Federal and Imo State governments, as well as security agencies, to act with urgency to bring everyone still being held home safely.

Security agencies have intensified efforts to locate and rescue the abducted passengers, with the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, deploying the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Mr Shehu Nadada, and two commissioners of police to coordinate the operation.

The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Audu Bosso, also disclosed that security operatives had traced the suspected kidnappers to a hideout in the bush using intelligence gathering and drone surveillance.

However, the planned assault on the location was delayed after intelligence indicated that the suspected camp had been fitted with improvised explosive devices (IEDs), prompting security agencies to prepare specialised equipment to safely access the area.

There have also been conflicting accounts over the number of people rescued and those still in captivity. While the police initially reported that 10 passengers had been rescued, relatives of the victims said 20 prospective corps members remained in the kidnappers’ custody.

The families also reported that the abductors had demanded N50 million for each victim, amounting to N1 billion, and appealed for urgent intervention to secure their release.

Atiku also drew attention to the continued captivity of schoolchildren abducted from Mussa and Lassa communities in Borno State, urging authorities not to allow the victims and their families to be forgotten.

He called for stronger measures to protect Nigerians travelling on roads and children in schools, while urging the government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the safe release of all those in captivity.