By Our Correspondent
Tension has gripped parts of Imo State following the reported abduction of 20 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) by gunmen along the Owerri–Onitsha Road.
The incident reportedly occurred around the Umunoha community in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, where the corps members were said to have been intercepted while travelling to their respective orientation camps.
According to the Imo State Police Command, the corps members were travelling in a commercial bus from Ibadan, Oyo State, and were heading to different NYSC orientation camps across the South-East and South-South regions.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Imo State Command, Henry Okoye, confirmed the incident during a telephone conversation with Channels Television.
Okoye said the corps members were intercepted by armed men along the road, resulting in their reported abduction.
The development has raised fresh concerns over the safety of young Nigerians travelling to various parts of the country to participate in the mandatory national service programme.
The affected corps members were reportedly on their way to commence their service year when the incident occurred, turning what was expected to be the beginning of their national assignment into a frightening ordeal.
The Owerri–Onitsha Road is an important transport route connecting communities and major commercial centres in the region. News of the reported abduction has therefore generated concern among residents, families and other travellers using the route.
Families of the affected corps members are expected to be anxiously awaiting information about their loved ones as security agencies work to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and locate those reportedly taken.
The incident also comes amid broader concerns about the safety of travellers on some major highways in the South-East and other parts of the country.
Security agencies are expected to intensify efforts to track down the perpetrators and secure the safe return of the abducted corps members.
Authorities have yet to publicly provide further details on the identities of the victims, the circumstances of their whereabouts or whether any contact has been established with their abductors.
The NYSC authorities have also yet to make a detailed public statement on the reported incident at the time of this report.
Further developments are expected as security agencies continue their efforts to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the reported abduction.
This is a developing story. More details will be published as they become available.
