Twenty prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps who were abducted while travelling from Oyo State to their orientation camps in Abia State have regained their freedom after seven days in captivity.
The victims were kidnapped last Thursday when gunmen attacked two buses conveying them along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in the Umunoha area of Imo State.
They are currently receiving medical attention at the Department of State Services Hospital in Owerri.
The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Olakunle Nafiu, visited the rescued corps members on Wednesday to assess their condition and assure them of the support of the scheme.
He was accompanied by the Imo State Commissioner of Police, the Director of the DSS and the Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade.
Nafiu also addressed the victims during the visit.
The release was confirmed by the Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, Isiah Akpan, who had earlier raised concerns over the abduction.
Details of the circumstances surrounding the rescue remained unclear as of Wednesday evening. Authorities have yet to disclose whether any of the kidnappers were arrested or whether ransom was paid.
The abduction had triggered widespread concern, particularly because the victims were young graduates travelling to begin their mandatory national service.
The kidnappers initially demanded N50m for each of the 20 captives, putting the total ransom at N1bn. The demand was later reportedly reduced to N5m per victim, or N100m in all, following mounting pressure and security operations.
Following the abduction, security agencies launched a joint search-and-rescue operation involving personnel from Imo and Oyo states.
The Imo State Police Command subsequently disclosed that its operatives had located the kidnappers’ hideout through drone surveillance. However, the operation was reportedly complicated by the discovery of improvised explosive devices planted around the area.
Security personnel were said to have brought in additional equipment, including bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers, to gain access to the location.
At one stage, the police announced that 10 of the abducted persons had been rescued, while efforts continued to locate the remaining victims.
With Wednesday’s development, all 20 prospective corps members have now regained their freedom and are receiving medical care.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, commended the security agencies for their role in securing the victims’ release.
In a statement personally signed by him, the governor acknowledged the collaboration between the Imo and Oyo State governments and said the sensitive nature of the operation had made it necessary to keep details of the rescue effort away from the public while it was ongoing.
Uzodimma praised the security agencies for what he described as their discreet and coordinated handling of the operation, while also commending the victims’ parents for their patience during the ordeal.
He urged Nigerians to maintain confidence in ongoing government efforts to tackle insecurity.
The incident has once again highlighted the security risks confronting young Nigerians travelling to NYSC orientation camps, particularly across parts of the South-East where highway attacks and kidnapping have remained a major concern.
The NYSC, established in 1973, requires Nigerian graduates below the prescribed age limit to undergo a compulsory one-year national service, including an initial orientation programme at designated camps across the country.
