Gunmen Demand N950m Ransom for 19 NYSC Members Abducted on Imo Highway
Owerri, Nigeria—October 3, 2026—Gunmen who abducted 19 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members along a major highway in Imo State have demanded a staggering N950 million ransom for their release, plunging families into fresh anguish.
The victims, all recent graduates heading to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states, were travelling in two buses operated by Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited when the attackers struck on Thursday morning along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Mbaitoli Local Government Area.
How the Attack Unfolded
According to the company’s Managing Director, Isiah Akpan, the buses left Bodija/Samonda Park in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday.
Heavy traffic delayed them around Benin City in Edo State, forcing the group to spend the night in Oba, Anambra State, before resuming the journey at about 5 a.m. on Thursday.
They had barely entered Imo State when armed men emerged from nearby bushes, blocked the two vehicles and forced 19 passengers—all prospective corps members—into the forest.
The drivers managed to escape and raised the alarm at a nearby security checkpoint.
“They blocked the two vehicles and took 19 passengers, all corps members, into the bush,” Akpan confirmed.
A vehicle manifest listed about 30 passengers across the two buses. Two other buses operated by the same company that were also heading to Abia State reportedly escaped the ambush.
Ransom Calls Spark Panic
By Friday, the kidnappers had begun contacting some of the victims’ families using the abductees’ phones. They demanded N50 million for each captive, bringing the total to N950 million.
One parent, who asked not to be named for security reasons, said, “The kidnappers called with my son’s phone this morning and demanded N50 million for his release. The N50 million is for only my son.”
The demands have left many families in distress, with some publicly appealing for urgent intervention from the federal government, security agencies and the NYSC Directorate.
Security Response and Partial Rescue
The Imo State Police Command said it rescued 10 victims shortly after the attack and recovered the two abandoned buses.
Spokesperson DSP Henry Okoye stated that a coordinated search involving the police, military and other security agencies was ongoing to locate the remaining captives.
In a further escalation of the response, the Inspector-General of Police deployed the Deputy Inspector-General in charge of Operations, Shehu Umar Nadada, to Imo State to personally coordinate the rescue efforts.
The Oyo State Government has also condemned the abduction of its indigenes among the victims and assured families that all necessary steps were being taken to secure their safe return.
Broader Context of Highway Insecurity
The incident has once again drawn attention to the persistent insecurity along major Nigerian highways, particularly routes used by young graduates travelling to NYSC orientation camps.
Similar attacks in recent months have targeted corps members in other states, raising questions about the safety of the mandatory national service programme.
As security operatives continue combing the forests and surrounding communities around Umunoha, families and the public are anxiously waiting for news of the remaining victims’ safe release.
Authorities have urged residents with useful information to contact security agencies while cautioning against the spread of unverified reports that could hinder the ongoing operation.
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