Nigerian police commissioner Audu Bosso confirmed that drones located a camp in Imo state where 19 prospective National Youth Service Corps members are being held by unknown gunmen. The police said the site appears to have improvised explosive devices, which could endanger any rescue attempt.
The captives were traveling from Ibadan to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom when buses were attacked near Umunoha. The kidnappers demanded a 50 million naira ransom—a sum most families cannot afford—leading parents to call for state intervention.
One father, Omotosho Adewale, said he has not eaten in three days and sees no hope for the safety of his son. He has appealed repeatedly to government officials for assistance.
Security analysts note that bomb‑laden abduction sites are a new tactic used by criminal gangs and armed groups to deter police and curtail rescue operations. They warn that the illegal payment of ransoms can fuel further abductions, especially as young people travel for the National Youth Service Corps.
The incident highlights the need for clearer policies on deploying corps members in high‑risk areas, a debate that has already been raised after separating groups like the Indigenous People of Biafra were linked to earlier kidnappings in the southeast.
For now, police are mobilising bulldozers and armoured vehicles in preparation for a carefully staged rescue, though the presence of IEDs remains a major obstacle.
