Gunmen hijacked two 18-seater buses and kidnapped their passengers, including 19 prospective corps members, along the Owerri-Onitsha expressway in Imo State.

The buses were carrying prospective corps members from Ibadan to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and Bende, Abia State. The attackers struck at the Umunoha axis of the road in Mbaitolu Local Government Area, in the early hours of the day.

A source in the area said the gunmen marched the passengers into the bush before security operatives arrived at the scene.

The corps members had departed from Samonda, Ibadan, Oyo State, at about 9 a.m. the previous Wednesday. They had stopped over in Imo State to spend the night.

Mother Narrates Final Contact Before Kidnap

The mother of one victim, Mrs Alimotu Akanke, shared her ordeal in a social media post. She said her son, Akande Farouq, was on his way to serve in Abia State when the vehicle was attacked.

“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,” she said. She said the family lost contact shortly after.

“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,” Akanke said.

She said her son has a twin brother, who was travelling in the vehicle and managed to send a brief video before contact was lost. “We even saw their bag inside the vehicle, confirming it was their vehicle. Only the driver escaped,” she added.

Family Appeals To Government For Urgent Rescue

Akanke said five people were taken from the second vehicle, while others escaped with that driver. In total, about 19 passengers who boarded from Ibadan remain unaccounted for.

She appealed directly to authorities for help.

“I am begging the Nigerian Government, all security agencies, and the NYSC management, whatever they can do, please help us… This should have been a time of joy. Please, help me, have mercy so these children can be released. Help us so they can come out safely,” she said.