By Our Correspondent
There was relief and excitement in Imo State after security forces rescued 10 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who were reportedly abducted by suspected gunmen while travelling to their orientation camps.
The victims were among passengers travelling in commercial buses when the vehicles were reportedly intercepted along the Owerri–Onitsha Road in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state.
The prospective corps members were said to be on their way to NYSC orientation camps in neighbouring states when the incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday.
News of the abduction had caused anxiety among families and relatives, who were left waiting anxiously for information about the safety and whereabouts of their loved ones.
Following the incident, security agencies quickly mobilised personnel for a search-and-rescue operation. Troops of Operation UDO KA, working alongside other security agencies, reportedly moved into the area to track down the abductors and rescue the victims.
The coordinated operation eventually yielded results, with 10 of the abducted passengers rescued alive. The two buses involved in the incident were also recovered during the operation.
The rescue brought immense relief to the families of the victims, who had feared the worst after losing contact with their loved ones.
Security agencies have continued efforts to establish the full details of the incident, including the circumstances surrounding the attack and whether other passengers may still be unaccounted for.
The development has also renewed concerns about the safety of travellers along major highways in the South-East, particularly during periods when thousands of young Nigerians travel to different parts of the country for the NYSC orientation exercise.
Authorities have urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with useful information that could help prevent similar incidents.
The successful rescue also highlights the importance of cooperation and rapid response among security agencies when dealing with kidnapping and other security challenges.
For the rescued prospective corps members, the immediate concern is now their safety, wellbeing and recovery from the traumatic experience.
As investigations continue, security personnel are expected to intensify efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
The rescue has offered a welcome moment of relief to the victims, their families and the wider public, even as authorities continue to work toward strengthening security along the affected routes.
