A woman has appealed for help after her twin daughter, Kehinde, was among corps members reportedly abducted by gunmen on the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State.
The woman said Kehinde left Samonda, Ibadan, around 9am on Wednesday with other corps members travelling to NYSC orientation camps in the South-East and South-South.
She said Kehinde spent the night in Imo before continuing the journey on Thursday morning. Shortly after 6am, she sent “kidnapper” to the family WhatsApp group and tried to call, but her phone later became unreachable.
The woman said the corps members were travelling in three vehicles, with one reportedly escaping while passengers in two others were taken into the bush.
“Since past 6am, I have not been able to hear from my child, and we couldn’t get her exact location anymore. Please, federal government, help us. I only have the two of them,” she appealed.
Her other daughter, Taiwo, had already reached her NYSC camp in Enugu.
The attack happened around Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area after gunmen reportedly stopped two buses, robbed passengers and marched them into the bush.
“Many people were kidnapped. They usually launch attacks when cattle are crossing the road because they know vehicles will slow down,” a source said.
One bus belonged to Uko Akwa Ibom Motors and was marked Uko/133.
The exact number abducted remains unknown. Police were yet to confirm the incident, while spokesperson DSP Henry Okoye had not responded to calls and messages.
