Bombs block police rescue of 19 kidnapped Nigerian youths

Mon Oct 05 2026 15:20:08 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Policemen locate camp holding 19 NYSC recruits, but minefield halts operation; families struggle with demands of 50m naira ransom.

Police used drones to locate a camp where 19 National Youth Service Corps recruits were abducted in Imo state, but a minefield has prevented a rescue operation. The kidnappers demanded 50m naira, a sum many families cannot afford. The NYSC, compulsory for recent graduates, has been criticised for sending trainees to high‑risk zones. Authorities have warned against paying ransom, yet the pressure on families remains intense. The incident highlights the growing insecurity surrounding Nigeria’s national service program.

Bombs block rescue of 19 kidnapped Nigerian youths

Police say they have located a camp where 19 National Youth Service Corps recruits are being held by gunmen but cannot move in as they believe the place is mined with explosives.

Commissioner Audu Bosso explained that drones helped identify the camp after the recruits were seized during a bus attack near Umunoha in Imo state. He added that the intelligence indicates the camp is surrounded by homemade bombs, preventing a straightforward assault.

The abducted recruits were travelling from Ibadan to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom. The kidnappers demanded 50 million naira ($37,680), a figure many families could not meet.

Omotosho Adewale, whose child is among the captives, shared that he has not eaten for three days and pleaded for government intervention. "There's no peace of mind," he said, his voice breaking.

Police are now deploying bulldozers and armoured vehicles as they prepare for a rescue operation, yet the mine threat remains.

Kidnapping for ransom is a widespread security problem in Nigeria, involving both criminal gangs and armed groups. The Nigerian government warns that paying ransom is illegal, though families often feel compelled to comply to secure releases.

The event sheds light on the risks Nigerian youths face during their compulsory one‑year National Youth Service Corps. Since the program’s launch, the NYSC has avoided posting members to areas deemed high‑risk, but the southeast has rarely been classified as such.

While some past abductions in the southeast were linked to separatist groups like the Indigenous People of Biafra, authorities have not connected this case to any group.