NYSC Kidnap: Abductors Demand N950m for 19 Prospective Corps Members in Imo

Families of 19 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State are facing mounting anxiety after their captors reportedly demanded a combined N950 million ransom for their release.

The graduates were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen attacked two buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Road, around Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, on October 1.

The buses were operated by Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited. The company’s Managing Director, Isiah Akpan, said the abductors demanded N50 million for each of the 19 victims, resulting in the reported N950 million demand.

Akpan said the two buses left Bodija/Samonda Park in Ibadan on Wednesday but were delayed by traffic around Benin, Edo State. They eventually reached Onitsha, Anambra State, where the travellers spent the night before continuing their journey early Thursday.

According to him, the buses resumed the journey at about 5am and had barely entered Imo State when armed men emerged from the bush, blocked the vehicles and forced passengers into the bush.

The drivers reportedly escaped and alerted security personnel at a nearby checkpoint, prompting a search operation involving the police and other security agencies.

A passenger manifest from the two buses reportedly contained 30 people, although reports from the transport company identified 19 prospective corps members as having been taken into the bush.

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The Imo State Police Command initially reported that 10 people had been rescued following the attack but said it was still verifying whether those rescued were among the prospective corps members reported missing. Police said a coordinated search operation was continuing for those still unaccounted for.

The situation has since prompted a higher-level police response. Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Shehu Umar Nadada, to Imo State to provide operational direction for the search-and-rescue mission.

Nadada arrived with two commissioners of police and other senior security officials and conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the operation. The police subsequently deployed additional tactical teams and operational assets to identified areas while intelligence-led efforts to track the attackers were intensified.

The police said the operation was being conducted in collaboration with other security agencies, with the immediate objective of safely rescuing the abducted persons and arresting those responsible.

The reported ransom demand has heightened the anxiety of relatives. Some families said the abductors contacted them using the phones of their loved ones and demanded N50 million for individual victims.

One parent reportedly said the kidnappers called using her son’s phone and demanded N50 million. Another mother, Mrs Oladosu, said her daughter, Greatness, was among those travelling to Uyo and that the family was able to see her and other victims during a video call.

Another victim, Akande Farouq, reportedly managed to send a distress message to his family’s WhatsApp group before his phone became unreachable.

Friends and relatives of some of the affected graduates have also launched social media appeals for their safe release. One of the identified victims is Precious Oladipupo, a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University.

The Oyo State Government has condemned the abduction and said it was working with security agencies, the Imo State Government and the NYSC leadership to secure the victims’ safe return. Governor Seyi Makinde also directed that necessary resources be deployed in support of efforts to rescue the affected residents.

The latest incident has renewed concerns about the safety of graduates travelling long distances for NYSC orientation programmes.

The Imo attack occurred only weeks after 15 prospective corps members were abducted in Kogi State while travelling to an NYSC orientation camp. Those victims were subsequently rescued by security forces.

With the police now conducting an intensified search in Imo, authorities have urged the public to remain calm and provide credible information that could assist the rescue operation.

The reported N950 million ransom demand remains based on information provided by the transport company and affected families. Police have not publicly confirmed the ransom figure and have continued to refer to the ongoing operation to rescue the abducted persons.

The number of people still in captivity has also been subject to differing accounts as security agencies continue to reconcile information from the scene, families and the transport company.

NYSC Kidnap: Abductors Demand N950m for 19 Prospective Corps Members in Imo

N500 Petrol, Wage Award: Public Sector Workers Begin Warning Strike

The three-day public sector warning strike declared over worsening economic hardship in Nigeria has begun on a shaky note, with mixed levels of compliance reported across the country.

The action, which commenced on October 2, followed the failure of the Federal Government and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) to reach an agreement on demands aimed at easing the pressure of rising living costs on workers.

Among the unions’ major demands are a reduction in the petrol price to N500 per litre, payment of an immediate wage award and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.

The unions are also seeking the implementation of outstanding agreements with the government and additional measures to improve workers’ welfare amid rising food, transportation and energy costs.

However, the first day of the warning strike recorded varying levels of compliance across the country.

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In Abuja, several federal government offices remained open, with some workers reporting for duty, although attendance was reportedly lower in some locations.

The situation was different in some states, where significant compliance was recorded. Reports indicated substantial participation in Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Ogun, while some northern states, including Gombe, recorded partial compliance.

Other locations recorded little or no disruption, underscoring the uneven nature of the industrial action on its first day.

The unions, however, disputed reports suggesting widespread non-compliance, claiming that participation was higher than figures being reported from some government offices. They put the level of compliance nationally at more than 65 per cent.

The warning strike is scheduled to run until October 4, unless the government reaches an agreement with the unions before then.

The industrial action comes against the backdrop of sustained concerns over cost of living, food prices, transportation expenses and the impact of higher petrol prices on household incomes.

For workers, the unions say the current economic conditions have significantly reduced purchasing power and require urgent intervention from the government.

The government’s response during the three-day action could determine whether the dispute is resolved through further negotiations or escalates into a more prolonged industrial confrontation.

For now, the public sector strike remains uneven across the country, with some government services continuing while workers in other areas have withdrawn their services in support of the unions’ demands.

N500 Petrol, Wage Award: Public Sector Workers Begin Warning Strike

Ughelli Hotel Assault: Police Arrest Key Suspect in Viral Underage Abuse Video

UGHELLI, Delta State – The Delta State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of one of the principal suspects involved in the disturbing viral video showing the sexual assault of a minor at a hotel in Ughelli. The arrest, which comes amid growing public outrage, sheds light on a harrowing ordeal that has shocked the nation and raised serious questions about juvenile crime and parental responsibility. According to police sources, the suspect, identified simply as Godstime, was apprehended following intense tracking by the command’s intelligence unit. Godstime is alleged to be one of the individuals who not only participated in the assault but also recorded the degrading video that subsequently circulated on social media.

Investigations reveal that the victim, a 16-year-old girl, was lured to the hotel by a female friend identified as “Nicemoney.” Upon arrival, the situation quickly escalated into a nightmare. Sources close to the investigation disclosed that the victim was slapped, ordered to undress, and subsequently assaulted by two male suspects, including Godstime and another accomplice identified as Goodluck. The ordeal was compounded by the suspects’ cruelty; they reportedly mocked the victim for being on her menstrual cycle during the attack. The suspects filmed the assault, using the video as leverage to demand further compliance before allegedly deleting it from the victim’s phone. However, the video was later leaked and went viral, sparking widespread condemnation.

The victim reportedly managed to escape the hotel room when the suspects fell asleep. Her escape led to the discovery of the video, which prompted a police investigation. Following a manhunt, Godstime was arrested, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend Goodluck and the female accomplice, Nicemoney.

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Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, who confirmed the arrest, expressed deep concern over the involvement of minors in such heinous acts. He emphasized that all suspects involved are under the age of 18, a factor that will significantly influence the legal proceedings. Speaking on the broader implications of the case, DSP Edafe issued a scathing indictment of the parenting of those involved. “The parents of these children have failed them,” Edafe stated, urging parents to take a more active role in monitoring their children’s activities and peer groups.

As the suspects are minors, the case will be handled under the provisions of the Child Rights Act (CRA). This means the suspects will likely face trial in a juvenile court, where the focus is on rehabilitation and correction rather than punitive measures typically applied to adults. The police have assured the public that the investigation will be thorough and that justice will be served in accordance with the law.

The viral nature of the video has ignited a firestorm of outrage across social media platforms, with many Nigerians calling for swift justice and stricter measures to protect minors from sexual violence. The case highlights a troubling trend of juvenile delinquency and the urgent need for societal introspection regarding the safety and moral upbringing of young people.

NewsTrends will continue to monitor this developing story and provide updates as the investigation progresses.

Ughelli Hotel Assault: Police Arrest Key Suspect in Viral Underage Abuse Video