Gunmen attacked two buses carrying prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers along the Owerri–Onitsha Road in Imo State on Thursday, October 1, 2026, leaving an unspecified number of travellers abducted and prompting a coordinated search-and-rescue operation by security agencies.
The attack occurred at about 6:30 a.m. near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area, according to the Imo State Police Command. The buses were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, towards destinations in the South-East and South-South, including Uyo in Akwa Ibom State and Bende in Abia State.
The incident has generated particular concern because prospective NYSC members were among the passengers travelling to orientation camps ahead of their national service programme. Several reports initially stated that about 20 corps members had been abducted, but the Imo State Police Command said the exact number of people taken into captivity was still being verified.
According to the police, security personnel responded to the attack and recovered both buses. Ten victims were also rescued at the scene and placed in safe hands, while tactical teams and other security agencies continued efforts to locate those who remained missing.
The police said the ongoing operation involves coordinated search-and-rescue activities and intelligence-led tracking aimed at identifying the suspected abductors and securing the release of the remaining victims.
Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Audu Garba Bosso, visited the scene alongside other security commanders to assess the situation and provide operational direction. The command said security personnel were deployed to the affected area as the search operation continued.
The police command has also been working with the NYSC Directorate to establish contact with the families of affected corps members and provide updates as more information becomes available.
The affected section of the Owerri–Onitsha Road was subsequently reopened to motorists, with security personnel deployed around the area. Authorities have not publicly attributed the attack to any particular group, and the suspects remain at large as of the latest available police account.
The conflicting figures surrounding the incident underscore the importance of official verification. 20 abducted corps members, the police position on Thursday was that the total number of abducted persons had not yet been conclusively established.
The attack also adds to wider concerns over the security of major highways used by young Nigerians travelling to NYSC orientation camps. A similar incident involving corps members and other travellers was reported in Kogi State in August, highlighting continuing security challenges along some inter-state routes.
For families awaiting information about their relatives, the immediate priority remains the safe recovery of everyone still unaccounted for. Security agencies are expected to provide further information as their operation progresses.
Obaland magazine will continue to monitor developments and report verified information from the police, NYSC authorities and other credible sources.
Gunmen attacked two buses carrying prospective NYSC members and other travellers on the Owerri–Onitsha Road in Imo State. Police rescued 10 victims while the number still missing remains under verification.