At least 19 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers have been abducted after armed men attacked two commercial buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday near the Umunoha axis of the road in Mbaitoli Local Government Area.
The two buses were reportedly travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and Bende, Abia State, when they were intercepted by the attackers.
According to reports, the passengers were taken into the surrounding bush before security operatives arrived at the scene.
The Imo State Police Command confirmed the attack, saying security agencies responded to the incident and recovered both buses.
The police said 10 victims were rescued at the scene and were receiving attention, while efforts were ongoing to establish the exact number of people still in captivity.
The command said tactical teams and other security personnel had been deployed to conduct coordinated search-and-rescue operations and track the suspected abductors.
The Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, also visited the scene alongside other security commanders to assess the situation and direct the rescue operation.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over the safety of prospective corps members travelling to their various orientation camps ahead of the NYSC programme.
