The victims were travelling in two buses when gunmen reportedly attacked them along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State, on Thursday.
The Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, Isiah Akpan, said the abductors demanded ₦50 million for each victim.
According to Akpan, the buses departed Bodija/Samonda Park in Ibadan on Wednesday but were delayed by traffic around Benin before reaching Onitsha later that day. The passengers reportedly spent the night in Oba and continued their journey at about 5am on Thursday.
He said the vehicles had barely entered Imo State when gunmen emerged from the bush, blocked both buses and took the 19 passengers into the bush.
“The drivers escaped and alerted security personnel, prompting police and military operatives to launch a search for the victims,” Akpan said.
Families of some of the abducted prospective corps members also reportedly received calls from the kidnappers using the victims’ phones, with demands for ₦50 million for each person.
One of the parents, Mrs Oladosu, said her daughter, Greatness, and other victims were briefly shown during a video call.
“They used my daughter’s number to call us. We saw her and other corps members sitting on the ground in the bush, crying,” she said.
The Imo State Police Command had earlier announced the rescue of 10 victims, while security agencies continued efforts to locate the remaining abducted prospective corps members.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government condemned the incident and said Governor Seyi Makinde had directed the deployment of necessary resources to secure the victims’ release.
“We are fully committed to securing the safe release of our children and will stop at nothing to ensure that they are reunited with their families without harm,” the state Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, said.
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