{
  "id": 12850700,
  "title": "Group of 20 graduates rescued after being abducted in Nigeria",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/group-of-20-graduates-rescued-after-being-abducted-in-nigeria-12850700",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T10:38:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/group-of-20-graduates-rescued-after-being-abducted-in-nigeria/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A group of 20 university graduates abducted last week in south-east Nigeria have been rescued, according to police. The young professionals were en route for a mandatory one-year community service programme in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen attacked their vehicles on October 1. Rescued by police with support from other security forces, the graduates were located at Amakohia Ubi in Imo State following a thorough search and rescue operation. Police spokesman Ani Iniedu confirmed the rescue in a statement on Wednesday, stating that the group is now under care and has undergone medical checks. The police, military, and other agencies engaged in intelligence-led searches in forests and suspected hideouts but did not confirm any ransom payments or arrests. Efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and prosecute them are ongoing. Previously, the police had identified the location of the abductees' captivity but could not intervene due to explosives planted in the area. The graduates were part of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), a compulsory service for Nigerian university graduates. They were traveling between Ibadan and NYSC orientation camps in separate buses when the attack occurred. The incident has reignited concerns over insecurity and kidnappings along roads in the region. One of the abducted's fathers, Omotosho Adewale, told the BBC that the kidnappers demanded a ransom of 50 million naira ($37,680; £28,440), an amount he could not pay. He expressed the family's lack of peace and his inability to eat for three days. Nigerian authorities have not disclosed the identity of the attackers, noting that outlawing ransom payments has not been effective in curbing kidnappings.",
  "summary": "A group of 20 young people who were abducted in south-east Nigeria last week have been rescued, police say.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}