By Emmanuel Iheaka
Armed men suspected to be herdsmen, Thursday, hijacked two 18-seater buses and kidnapped their passengers along the Owerri-Onitsha express way.
The buses were said to be conveying corps members from Ibadan to Uyo in Akwa Ibom, and Bende in Abia State, when the bandits swooped on them at Umunoha axis of the road in Mbaitolu, Imo State, in the early hours.
A source in the area said the armed men marched the passengers into the bush before security men arrived at the scene.
There have been reports of kidnapping cases along the road in recent times, with victims said to have paid ransom before their release.
A man and her daughter were said to have been seized on the same road by the same bandits about three weeks ago and were reportedly released after paying the sum of N29 million as ransom.
Reacting to the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, said the command and sister security agencies have deployed tactical teams and operational assets to rescue the victims.
Okoye stated that the buses have been recovered and that the Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso, had embarked on an on-the-spot assessment of the scene.
“The Imo State Police Command, led by the Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso, in collaboration with sister security agencies, has deployed tactical teams and operational assets to rescue the abducted corps members and other passengers and to arrest the suspected abductors.
“The incident occurred at about 0630hrs on 1st October, 2026, along the Owerri-Onitsha Road, by Umunoha. Two buses conveying NYSC corps members and other passengers from Ibadan to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and Bende, Abia State, respectively, were attacked by suspected armed men.
“Following a swift response by the Police and other security agencies, both buses have been recovered and 10 victims were rescued at the scene. The rescued victims are in safe hands and are being attended to. The exact number of persons abducted is being verified and will be made public once confirmed.
“Operatives are conducting coordinated search and rescue operations, backed by intelligence-led tracking of the suspects.
“The Commissioner of Police, alongside other Service Commanders, visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment and to give operational direction. He assured the public that the Command will sustain the operation until all victims are safely recovered and the suspects are brought to justice.
“The Command is working with the NYSC Directorate to reach the families of the affected corps members, who will be kept informed as the situation develops”, Okoye stated.
