The Imo State Police Command has confirmed that members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were among passengers abducted by suspected armed men along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway on Thursday morning.

The command also confirmed that 10 of the victims had been rescued following a swift response by the police and other security agencies.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Imo State, Okoye Henry, disclosed this in a statement, saying the exact number of people abducted was still being verified.

According to him, the incident occurred at about 6:30am on October 1, 2026, around Umunoha on the Owerri-Onitsha Road.

He said two buses conveying NYSC corps members and other passengers travelling 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,” the statement said.

The incident had earlier sparked tension along the busy highway after gunmen reportedly intercepted two 18-seater buses carrying passengers and took some of them into the bush.

A viral video circulated on X showed buses branded with the Abia State Government logo, with reports indicating that the passengers were travelling to Akwa Ibom and Abia states.

Okoye said coordinated search and rescue operations were ongoing, with security agencies deploying intelligence to track the attackers and rescue the remaining victims.

He added that the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, alongside other service commanders, had visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment and to provide operational direction.

The police spokesman said the command would sustain the operation until all victims were safely recovered and the suspects apprehended.

He also disclosed that the police were working with the NYSC directorate to establish contact with the families of the affected corps members and keep them updated on developments.

According to him, the affected section of the expressway had been reopened to traffic, while security personnel remained deployed to safeguard commuters.

The command urged residents and road users to remain calm and vigilant, appealing to anyone with credible information about the incident or the whereabouts of the suspects to report to the nearest police station or contact the command through its emergency lines.