RismadarVoice Reporters
October 5, 2026
Families of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State have raised fresh concerns over their safety, alleging that the captives are being physically assaulted as their abductors reduced their total ransom demand from ₦1 billion to ₦100 million.
The prospective corps members were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen attacked two buses around Umunoha in Imo State.
The abductors had initially demanded ₦50 million for each victim, amounting to ₦1 billion, but relatives said the demand had now been reduced to ₦5 million per person.
Alhaja Alimot Akande, whose 25-year-old sister, Kehinde Akande, is among those being held, said the reduction had done little to ease the families’ anxiety because the victims remained in captivity.
Akande alleged that the abductors had begun beating the captives.
“They are not sparing anybody. They are beating all of them,” she said.
She described the situation facing the families as frightening and appealed to the government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the victims’ release.
The families have also raised concerns about the response of the transport company involved in the journey, alleging that they encountered difficulties obtaining information that could help them contact other affected families.
One of the affected parents, Iyabo Akande, called on the Inspector-General of Police and relevant authorities to investigate the matter and establish the circumstances surrounding the journey and the company’s response after the abduction.
Meanwhile, security agencies say operations to rescue the victims are continuing.
The Imo State Police Command said tactical teams were conducting operations aimed at locating and safely recovering the abducted travellers.
Police spokesperson DSP Henry Okoye said security personnel were gradually closing in on the area where the victims were believed to be held.
The Oyo State Government has also said it is working with authorities in Imo State and relevant security agencies to support efforts to secure the victims’ release.
Security officials had earlier said the suspected location of the abductors had been identified, but concerns over possible improvised explosive devices in the area complicated immediate access.
The police and military have maintained that coordinated efforts are continuing to rescue the victims safely.
The prospective corps members remain in captivity as their families await further developments from the ongoing security operation.
