Twenty prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and one other civilian abducted in Imo State have been rescued by joint security forces.

The victims were reportedly kidnapped on October 1, 2026, along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in the Umunoha area of Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state, while travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

The abduction sparked a coordinated search-and-rescue operation involving personnel of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security formations.

Earlier in the operation, security agencies had located the suspected kidnappers’ hideout through intelligence gathering and drone surveillance. However, the rescue operation was reportedly approached cautiously after intelligence indicated that the area had been potentially fitted with improvised explosive devices.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, had also deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Shehu Umar Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the rescue efforts and strengthen the joint operation.

The successful operation has now resulted in the release of the 20 prospective corps members and one civilian.

The rescued victims are currently receiving medical attention at a DSS facility, where they are also expected to undergo necessary assessment and debriefing following their ordeal.

The development comes days after families of the abducted prospective corps members raised concerns over their safety and appealed for urgent intervention from the government and security agencies.

Security authorities had assured the families that every available resource would be deployed to secure the victims’ safe release.

The latest rescue brings relief to the affected families and relatives, while security agencies are expected to continue efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible for the abduction.

Authorities have continued to urge members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible information that could assist ongoing efforts to tackle kidnapping and other forms of insecurity in the state.