By Samuel Olusegun Precious
Reports have it that troops of the joint security services have rescued 10 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Onitsha-Owerri Road in Imo State.
The victims were reportedly taken from two commercial buses at Umonuwa village in Mbaise Local Government Area during an early-morning incident at about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday.
According to an operational report made available on Thursday, troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade under Operation UDO KA of the Nigerian Army, responded swiftly to the incident. The rescue operation was carried out in conjunction with personnel of the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police Force and Department of State Services, who launched a coordinated pursuit of the perpetrators.
The two buses were conveying prospective corps members and other passengers from Ibadan to Uyo and Bende when they came under attack, police said.
The vehicles have been recovered.
The Imo State Police Command also confirmed the rescue, saying 10 victims have been recovered and are in safe hands.
“The rescued victims are in safe hands and are being attended to. The exact number of persons abducted is being verified and will be made public once confirmed,” Police spokesman Henry Okoye said.
The Army said operations are ongoing to rescue other victims still held and apprehend the kidnappers, while the affected section of the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway has been reopened with security personnel still deployed.
The incident comes amid renewed security operations nationwide. In separate operations in Adamawa, troops repelled attacks in Garkida and Garaha and neutralised 16 terrorists, recovering AK-47 rifles and other weapons.
Recall that a distraught mother made an appeal on Thursday morning for her twin daughter who went incommunicado before reaching her destination while the other twin had reported in the NYSC camp she was posted to.
