OWERRI, Nigeria — Terrorists hijacked two 18-seater commercial buses and abducted 19 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members alongside other passengers along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State during the early hours of October 1, 2026.
Golden Info reports that local sources and eyewitnesses confirmed the assailants ambushed the vehicles at the Umunoha axis in Mbaitoli Local Government Area before marching the occupants into a nearby bush prior to the arrival of security personnel.
The victims had departed from Samonda, Ibadan, Oyo State, at approximately 9:00 AM on October 1, 2026, in two separate buses bound for NYSC orientation camps in Abia State and Akwa Ibom State. The travelers made an overnight stop after passing Onitsha before resuming their journey at 4:30 AM on October 2, 2026, when the attack occurred.
According to Mrs. Alimotu Akanke, the mother of abducted corps member Akande Farouq, the families were tracking the travelers’ location until receiving a brief text message stating “Kidnappers!” after which all communication ceased. Mrs. Akanke stated that the driver of the first bus escaped, while in the second vehicle, five passengers were abducted while others fled alongside the driver.
Mrs. Alimotu Akanke said: “What happened is that my child, Akande Farouq, was going to serve in Abia State. He left the park yesterday, heir vehicle departed from Samonda at 10a.m. So, about 10p.m., they had stopped somewhere after Onitsha. They parked after Onitsha to sleep. We were monitoring their progress. But at 4:30a.m., their vehicle started moving again. They were on their way, and we were tracking them as they traveled. The next thing, we saw was a brief text message: ‘Kidnappers!’ Immediately after sending ‘kidnappers’, the person could not. Since then, we haven’t been able to reach them or talk to them. None of the messages we sent have gotten a response. They confirmed it. He’s a twin, the second person was going to Enugu. That second person was making a video, and that’s what they sent. We even saw their bag inside the vehicle, confirming it was their vehicle. Only the driver escaped. For the second vehicle, they said five people were taken, while others escaped along with the driver. So, in total, there are about 19 passengers who boarded from Ibadan that we know of. I am begging the Nigerian Government, all security agencies, and the NYSC management, whatever they can do, please help us. May you never weep over your children. May your children never fall into trouble. This should have been a time of joy. May you never experience sorrow. Please, help me, have mercy so these children can be released. Help us so they can come out safely. You will not face distress. Think of the effort put into raising them, only for them to be abducted on their way to serve their nation. God, please have mercy on me.”
Security agencies and representatives from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have not yet issued an official statement regarding rescue operations or the exact status of the missing passengers.