Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
Families of prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members from Oyo State have been thrown into panic after abductors reportedly demanded ₦950 million for the release of 19 graduates seized in Imo State.
The prospective corps members were travelling from Ibadan to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen attacked two buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Road near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
The reported ransom demand amounts to ₦50 million per victim, according to information provided by the transport company involved and reports from affected families.
How the Abduction Happened
The two buses, operated by Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, left the Bodija/Samonda area of Ibadan on Wednesday with passengers travelling towards different NYSC orientation camps.
According to the company’s Managing Director, Isiah Akpan, the journey was delayed by traffic around Benin, Edo State, before the vehicles eventually reached the Onitsha area of Anambra State.
The passengers reportedly spent the night in Oba before resuming their journey around 5 a.m. on Thursday.
The buses were later intercepted by armed men along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in the Umunoha area of Imo State.
Akpan told The PUNCH that the attackers took 19 prospective corps members into the bush after stopping the two vehicles.
Police Confirm Attack and Rescue Operation
The Imo State Police Command confirmed that gunmen attacked the buses and that security agencies immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation.
Police Public Relations Officer Henry Okoye said the attack occurred at about 6:30 a.m. along the Owerri-Onitsha Road near Umunoha.
The command subsequently announced that 10 victims had been rescued and that the two buses had been recovered.
However, the police initially said the exact number of people abducted was still being verified, meaning early reports contained differing figures about the number of victims.
The police said tactical teams and other security personnel were deployed to track the suspected abductors and locate those who remained in captivity.
Families Receive Ransom Demands
The reported ransom demand has increased anxiety among relatives of the abducted graduates.
According to The PUNCH, some families were contacted by the abductors, who allegedly demanded ₦50 million for individual victims.
One parent reportedly said the kidnappers contacted her using her son’s phone and demanded ₦50 million for his release.
Another parent said her family was contacted through her daughter’s phone and that the family was able to see some of the abducted graduates during a video call.
The reports have raised concern among families who are struggling to establish the whereabouts and safety of their relatives.
The reported ransom demand has not been independently confirmed by the Imo State Police Command as an amount officially acknowledged by the security authorities. Weng Global therefore presents the ₦950 million figure as a reported demand attributed to the abductors and information from affected families and the transport company.
Oyo Government Responds
The Oyo State Government has condemned the abduction and said it was engaging relevant authorities over the incident.
The state’s Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, said the government was communicating with security agencies, the Imo State Government and NYSC leadership.
The government said Governor Seyi Makinde had directed that necessary resources be deployed towards securing the safe return of the affected residents.
Authorities have also urged affected families to remain calm while security agencies continue their efforts to locate the remaining victims.
Security Agencies Intensify Search
The incident has placed renewed attention on the safety of graduates travelling across Nigeria during NYSC mobilisation periods.
Police and other security agencies have continued efforts to locate the suspected kidnappers and secure the release of those still missing.
The police operation follows the earlier rescue of 10 victims, although authorities have cautioned that the circumstances and identities of those rescued were still being established.
A later report by PM News said the Imo State Police Command had located a suspected camp where the remaining prospective corps members were believed to be held, although security personnel were reportedly assessing the risks before launching a ground operation.
A Wider Security Concern for NYSC Members
The Imo incident is part of a broader pattern of security concerns involving prospective and serving corps members travelling between states.
Because NYSC mobilisation requires graduates to travel considerable distances from their home states to orientation camps and places of primary assignment, highway insecurity can expose participants to kidnapping and other criminal attacks.
The latest incident has therefore renewed questions about security arrangements for prospective corps members travelling through known high-risk corridors.
For families, the immediate priority remains the safe return of those still in captivity.
What Happens Next
Security agencies are expected to continue the search for the remaining victims and pursue the suspected abductors.
Authorities will also need to establish the final number of people abducted, identify those who have been rescued and provide verified updates to their families.
As of the latest reports reviewed by Weng Global, the ₦950 million ransom demand remains a reported demand rather than a confirmed payment, and there is no verified indication in the sources reviewed that the ransom has been paid.
The developing situation remains subject to further updates from the police, government authorities, NYSC and the families of the affected graduates.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- The PUNCH — Report on the ₦950 million ransom demand and accounts from affected families.
- Channels Television — Police confirmation of the Imo abduction and rescue of 10 victims.
- Premium Times — Report on the police confirmation of the abduction along the Owerri-Onitsha Road.
- The Guardian Nigeria — Initial report on the abduction and uncertainty over the number of victims.
- PM News — Update on the reported location of the suspected kidnappers’ camp.
