Twenty prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), abducted while travelling to orientation camps in south-east Nigeria, have regained their freedom after one week in captivity.
The victims were rescued on Wednesday, October 7, during a joint operation involving the police, the State Security Service (SSS) and military personnel in Imo State.
Police spokesperson Ani Iniedu, a chief superintendent of police, confirmed the rescue in a statement issued on Wednesday night.
According to Iniedu, the victims were rescued at Amakohia Ubi Village in Imo State following sustained search-and-rescue operations.
He said the rescued corps members had been taken for medical assessment and necessary treatment.
Security sources also told SK blog that the victims were taken to an SSS medical facility in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The police spokesperson added that security agencies were continuing efforts to arrest the abductors.
The prospective corps members were abducted at about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 1, along the Owerri-Onitsha Road near Umunoha in Imo State.
They were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen intercepted their journey.
Following the incident, security operatives rescued 10 victims at the scene, according to an earlier police account.
On Saturday, Imo State Commissioner of Police Audu Bosso said security agencies had identified the location where the remaining victims were being held.
However, he said operatives had delayed moving into the hideout because intelligence reports indicated that it had been planted with improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Reports also indicated that the abductors initially demanded ₦1 billion for the release of the 20 victims before allegedly reducing the ransom to ₦5 million per person, bringing the total to ₦100 million.
As of Wednesday night, the police had not announced any arrests in connection with the abduction.
