Mother Begs Tinubu, Security Agencies to Rescue Daughter, Other Abducted NYSC Members in Imo

An Ibadan-based mother, Mrs Alimot Akande, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to urgently rescue her daughter and other prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members reportedly abducted during a journey to their orientation camp.

Akande made the appeal in Ibadan on Thursday, saying her daughter, Kehinde Akande, was among prospective corps members travelling from Oyo State to the NYSC orientation camp in Abia when their bus was attacked.

Families of the affected travellers have reported that the incident occurred after the passengers left Ibadan on Wednesday and stopped around Onitsha at about 10 p.m. before continuing their journey the following morning. Reports have put the number of prospective corps members affected at between 19 and 20, although the Imo State Police Command said the exact number of abducted passengers was still being verified.

The police had earlier confirmed that two buses carrying prospective corps members and other passengers were attacked along the Owerri-Onitsha Road near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. The command said 10 victims were rescued after security operatives responded to the attack, while efforts continued to locate those still missing.

Akande said her family had been monitoring her daughter’s journey when they suddenly received a brief message from her phone. The message reportedly contained a single word: “kidnappers!” Attempts to reach her afterwards were unsuccessful.

“The passengers had a stopover on Wednesday night in Onitsha at about 10 p.m., and the journey continued on Thursday morning before she quickly dropped a message that simply said, ‘kidnappers!’ indicating that the bus had been attacked by suspected armed kidnappers,” Akande said.

The distraught mother said she had been unable to establish further contact with her daughter since the message and appealed to the government to act quickly to secure the safe return of the victims.

“I appeal to the Federal Government, the NYSC, the police and other security agencies to rescue my daughter and the others unhurt,” she said.

The appeal comes as security agencies intensify search-and-rescue operations in the area. The Imo Police Command said tactical teams were conducting intelligence-led operations to locate the remaining victims and apprehend the suspected abductors, while authorities were also working with NYSC officials to keep affected families informed.

The incident has heightened concerns among families sending young graduates across the country for the NYSC programme. For relatives of those still unaccounted for, the immediate priority remains securing their safe release as security agencies continue the search.