Gunmen Abduct Passengers Along Onitsha-Owerri Road
Gunmen reportedly attacked two buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State, abducting passengers including prospective NYSC members, while police have launched a rescue operation.
Panic spread among motorists, passengers and families on Thursday after gunmen attacked two buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Road near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. The incident occurred at about 6:30 a.m. on October 1, according to the Imo State Police Command. The buses were carrying prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers travelling from Ibadan to orientation camps in the South-East and South-South.
The police said the attackers intercepted the two buses and took some of the occupants away. Initial reports circulated online suggested that as many as 20 NYSC members had been abducted, but the police later said the exact number of victims was still being verified. The command confirmed that 10 victims had already been rescued following a response involving police and other security agencies.
The two buses were reportedly travelling to different destinations, with one conveying passengers towards Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and the other towards Bende, Abia State. Videos shared online showed the buses abandoned along the highway after the attack, while eyewitness accounts described passengers being taken into nearby bush areas. Authorities have not confirmed the identities or affiliations of the attackers.
Following the attack, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Bosso, visited the scene alongside other security commanders for an on-the-spot assessment. The police said tactical teams were conducting coordinated search-and-rescue operations supported by intelligence-led tracking in an effort to locate the remaining victims and apprehend the suspects. The affected section of the road has also been reopened to traffic, with security personnel deployed to protect commuters.
The incident has caused concern among families of the affected travellers, particularly relatives of prospective corps members who were travelling to their orientation camps. The police said it was working with the NYSC authorities to contact the families and provide updates as the rescue operation continues. Authorities have appealed for calm and vigilance while urging anyone with credible information about the attackers or missing passengers to contact security agencies.
