Abductors Demand ₦950m for 19 Prospective Corps Members
Abductors who seized 19 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their orientation camps have reportedly demanded a combined ₦950 million ransom for their release.
The graduates were among passengers travelling in two buses attacked at about 6:30 a.m. on October 1 near Umunoha, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, along the Owerri–Onitsha Road. The buses were heading to orientation camps in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and Bende, Abia State.
According to reports from the families and the bus operator, the kidnappers have demanded ₦50 million for each victim, although authorities have yet to independently confirm the total ransom figure. Some families said the abductors contacted them using the phones of the victims.
The Imo State Police Command said 10 victims were rescued following the attack, but stressed that the exact number of people still in captivity was being verified. Security forces have launched intelligence-led search operations to locate the remaining victims and apprehend the attackers.
The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of graduates travelling long distances for NYSC mobilisation. It comes just weeks after 15 prospective corps members were among people abducted in Kogi State, before security forces rescued them.
The National Association of Nigerian Students has called for a review of long-distance NYSC postings and safer transportation arrangements, arguing that compulsory national service should not expose young graduates to avoidable security risks.
For the affected families, the immediate priority remains the safe return of their children, while the latest ransom demand raises wider questions about how secure Nigeria’s NYSC mobilisation routes are and whether current measures are sufficient to protect young graduates travelling across the country.
