By our reporter 7.10.2026
The 20 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members kidnapped by gunmen in Imo State have regained their freedom after a week of captivity.
According to various reports a combined team of Nigeria Army, Department of State Services (DSS), police and other security formations, rescued the victims after an intelligence-driven operation.
There were no specifics on the rescue mission, and it was not clear if ransom was paid or there was any arrest of the criminal gang members who had demanded N1 billion ransom for the corpers to be released. Imo State governor said in a statement that he was happy that the ordeal is over praising the cooperation of the Oyo State and Imo State governments, the security agents in the rescue mission.
The corpers have been addressed by NYSC director-general Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu and those in urgent need of medical attention receiving medical attention at the Department of State Services (DSS) Hospital in Owerri.
The victims were traveling to their NYSC orientation camps in the South-east and South-south when they were taken along the Owerri-Onitsha highway.