Gunmen abduct 20 NYSC corps members in Imo

On August 26, 2026, armed men attacked vehicles along the Aloma–Egane Expressway in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The attackers reportedly emerged from the bush around Ogene Zaria, near the Ogene Zaria–Onicha-Igo Junction, and blocked two buses travelling in opposite directions.

The Kogi State Police Command subsequently confirmed that 11 victims, including the drivers of the two buses, had been rescued following a coordinated security operation.

Most of the rescued victims were identified as NYSC members travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja.

Security agencies later said the rescued victims were found in Egume Forest in Ofu Local Government Area after a joint operation involving the police, military, Department of State Services and other security personnel.

The recurrence of attacks involving corps members has renewed attention on the security challenges associated with inter-state travel during NYSC mobilisation and deployment.

For prospective and serving corps members, movement between states is an important part of the scheme. Graduates often travel long distances from their institutions or places of residence to orientation camps and subsequently to their places of primary assignment.

The incidents therefore raise questions about how security assessments are conducted for corps members travelling between states and the measures available to protect them during such journeys.

In the Kogi incident, the police said the exact number of people initially abducted was not immediately established, while efforts continued to locate any remaining victims and apprehend the attackers.

The NYSC has faced security concerns in different parts of the country in recent years, making the safety of corps members an increasingly important consideration in discussions around deployment, transportation and orientation.

The Federal Government had also recently approved reforms to the NYSC scheme, including more security-conscious deployment arrangements.

The implementation of such measures will be closely watched as the government seeks to balance the objectives of national integration, youth development and the safety of corps members.

As security agencies continue the search for the 20 abducted corps members in Imo State, their families, colleagues and communities await further information on the rescue operation.

The immediate priority remains securing their safe return while ensuring that the circumstances surrounding the attack are investigated and the perpetrators are brought to justice.