OWERRI — The 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and one other passenger kidnapped by armed bandits along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State have regained their freedom after spending six days in captivity.
The victims, who were abducted on Independence Day, October 1, 2026, while traveling in two commercial buses from Oyo State toward orientation camps in Akwa Ibom and Abia states, were rescued on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, following a joint intelligence-driven security operation.
Tactical teams comprising personnel from the Nigerian Army, the Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and local security formations successfully coordinated the rescue operation in the forest axis near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area.
Following their release around 4:00 PM on Wednesday, the rescued victims were immediately taken to a DSS medical facility in Owerri, where they are currently receiving comprehensive medical examinations and psychological support before being reunited with their families.
Commending the inter-agency collaboration, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma issued a statement praising the discreet handling of the situation by security forces, noting that deliberate information management was maintained during search-and-rescue operations to guarantee the safety of the hostages.
