Bandits
OWERRI, Imo State — Security operatives in Imo State have pinpointed the hideout of gunmen holding 19 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted earlier this week, using drone surveillance.
However, a planned raid has been delayed due to intelligence indicating that the area is heavily mined with improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Imo State Commissioner of Police Audu Garba Bosso disclosed the development on Saturday, October 3, 2026, during a media briefing on the ongoing search-and-rescue operation.
“Any moment, we’ll still move into the bush. Yesterday, we were in the bush, we trailed them up to a particular location. But at that point in time, we couldn’t move in to where the coordinate showed us where they are because we ran drones yesterday. And the drone actually showed us exactly their location. But our predicament is that with the intel we have… the camp is mined with IEDs,” Bosso said.
He added that security forces are preparing to advance with heavy equipment to minimize risks to the victims and operatives. “We are moving in there with high-velocity vehicles, that is, bulldozers, we’re moving in with bulldozers and APCs to see how we’re going to rescue these victims unhurt,” the commissioner stated.
The prospective corps members were among passengers travelling in two commercial buses operated by Uko Akwa Ibom Motors from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states. The attack occurred around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2026, near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area along the Owerri-Onitsha Road.
Gunmen emerged from the bush, blocked the vehicles, and marched about 19 passengers—primarily prospective corps members—into the forest. The drivers escaped and raised the alarm at a nearby security checkpoint. Police recovered both buses and initially rescued 10 victims at or near the scene, though it remains unclear if any of those rescued were among the missing corps members.
Reports indicate that the abductors have contacted some families, demanding ₦50 million per victim—totaling ₦950 million. Some relatives received video calls from the victims’ phones, heightening anxiety among the affected families.
In response to the incident, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu deployed Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Operations) Shehu Umar Nadada, along with two Commissioners of Police, to Imo State to provide operational leadership. The DIG conducted an on-the-spot assessment alongside CP Bosso, the Commissioner of Police for Federal Operations, the CP in charge of the Police Mobile Force, and other service commanders.
Security agencies have intensified intelligence-led tracking, deployed additional tactical teams, and are collaborating across forces. Authorities have urged the public to provide credible information, assuring confidentiality.
The abduction has renewed concerns about the safety of young Nigerians travelling to NYSC orientation camps, following similar incidents in other parts of the country in recent months. Operations remain ongoing as security forces prepare for a carefully coordinated advance into the identified location.
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