The Imo State Police Command says it has rescued 10 passengers abducted by gunmen who attacked two commercial buses in Mbaitoli Local Government Area.
The two buses, which were travelling from Ibadan in Oyo State to Uyo in Akwa Ibom and Bende in Abia State, were attacked around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday at Umunoha, an area popularly known as No Man’s Land.
Some of the passengers were reportedly serving members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.
The police also recovered both buses and launched a search operation for other passengers who may still be held by the attackers.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, said the total number of people abducted had yet to be established.
He said, “Following a swift response by the police and other security agencies, both buses have been recovered and 10 victims were rescued at the scene. The rescued victims are in safe hands and are being attended to.”
Okoye said security operatives were using intelligence-led tracking and coordinated search-and-rescue operations to locate the remaining victims and arrest those responsible for the attack.
He added that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso, and other security commanders had visited the scene to assess the situation and coordinate the response.
According to the police, tactical teams and other operational assets have been deployed in collaboration with sister security agencies.
The command is also working with the NYSC authorities to contact the families of affected corps members and provide them with updates.
The police said the affected section of the expressway had been reopened to motorists, while security personnel remained in the area to protect commuters.
The command appealed for calm and urged members of the public with useful information about the attackers or the whereabouts of the remaining victims to contact the police.
Okoye said, “The Command will sustain the operation until all victims are safely recovered and the suspects are brought to justice.”
