The abduction of prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members travelling to their orientation camps has raised fresh concerns about the safety of young Nigerians on major highways. On Thursday, October 1, 2026, gunmen attacked two buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State, taking passengers into the surrounding area.
The Imo State Police Command later confirmed that 10 victims had been rescued, while the exact number of people abducted was still being verified. The buses were carrying prospective corps members and other passengers travelling from Ibadan to orientation camps in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and Bende, Abia State.
Gunmen Target Travellers Heading to NYSC Camps
The attack happened at about 6:30 a.m. near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area, according to the police. Security agencies recovered both buses after responding to the attack and launched a wider search operation for those still missing.
The incident caused panic among families, particularly because some of the travellers were young graduates travelling to begin the mandatory national service programme. Reports from relatives described frantic attempts to contact their children after communication was lost during the journey.
The police said tactical teams and other security agencies were conducting coordinated search-and-rescue operations, supported by intelligence aimed at tracking the attackers and locating the remaining victims. The affected section of the highway has also been reopened, with security personnel deployed in the area.
10 Rescued, but Questions Remain
The rescue of 10 victims is a significant development, but the operation is not over. Authorities have not yet publicly confirmed the final number of people abducted or whether all the remaining victims have been located.
This uncertainty is particularly important because different reports have given different figures for the number of prospective corps members affected. The police have said they will release the confirmed number after completing their verification.
The immediate priority is therefore the safe recovery of everyone still missing and the identification and arrest of those responsible.
Fresh Safety Concerns for Corps Members
The NYSC abduction in Imo also comes only weeks after another highway attack involving corps members in Kogi State. In that case, security forces later rescued victims following an operation in Egume Forest.
The repeated incidents raise a wider question about how prospective corps members are transported across states before reaching their orientation camps. Thousands of young graduates travel long distances during each deployment period, making transport security an important part of the NYSC process.
For families, the expectation will now be that security agencies not only rescue those still missing but also strengthen protection around major routes used by corps members. The latest rescue operation could bring relief to affected families, but the incident has once again exposed the risks facing young Nigerians travelling to begin national service.
