Twenty NYSC members and another passenger abducted in Imo have regained freedom after a six-day ordeal and joint security operation
Twenty prospective National Youth Service Corps members and another passenger abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State have regained their freedom after a six-day ordeal.
The victims were rescued on Wednesday and taken to the Department of State Services hospital in Owerri, where they are currently receiving medical attention.
The development followed a coordinated operation involving the police, military, Department of State Services and other security agencies after the victims were abducted by gunmen on October 1.
The victims were travelling from Ibadan to orientation camps in the South-East and South-South when gunmen attacked two buses around Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
The initial police response resulted in the recovery of the two buses and the rescue of 10 victims.
However, several others were taken into the bush, prompting security agencies to intensify efforts to locate them and secure their release.
The operation subsequently expanded, with the police, military, DSS and other security agencies working together to track the abductors and locate the remaining victims.
The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, visited the rescued victims at the DSS hospital in Owerri on Wednesday.
He was accompanied by the Imo State Commissioner of Police, the Director of the DSS and the Brigade Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade, Imo State.
The visit came shortly after the victims were freed and taken to the medical facility for attention following their ordeal.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, had deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Shehu Nadada, alongside additional tactical resources to oversee the rescue operation.
Security agencies later identified the suspected hideout of the abductors.
However, an immediate assault on the location was reportedly delayed after intelligence indicated that improvised explosive devices had been placed around the area.
The development meant that security personnel had to approach the operation with caution while continuing efforts to secure the safe release of the remaining abductees.
The abduction had triggered concerns over the safety of graduates travelling to NYSC orientation camps, particularly amid continued security challenges along some major routes.
The NYSC has advised prospective corps members to avoid night journeys and follow established travel safety guidelines while making their way to orientation camps.
The incident has also highlighted concerns surrounding the movement and deployment of corps members and prospective participants in the national service scheme.
The NYSC recently introduced reforms including risk-sensitive deployment following growing security concerns around the movement and placement of corps members.
The reforms approved by the Federal Executive Council in June included changes to the call-up process and orientation programme, alongside continued security support for the scheme.
The release of the 20 prospective corps members and the other passenger brings an end to days of uncertainty for their families, who had been seeking information about their whereabouts since the attack.
With the victims now receiving medical attention, attention is expected to shift towards their recovery after the traumatic experience.
The successful rescue also underscores the importance of coordinated security operations in responding to abductions involving prospective corps members travelling to orientation camps.
