The Imo State Police Command says it has identified the suspected location where 19 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in the state are being held.

However, security operatives have yet to enter the area after receiving intelligence that the abductors may have planted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) around the camp.

The state Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, disclosed the development on Saturday while providing an update on the ongoing search-and-rescue operation.

According to Bosso, security personnel tracked the suspected kidnappers into the bush on Friday before deploying drones to establish the exact location of their hideout.

The drone surveillance reportedly provided security agencies with the coordinates of the camp. However, concerns over possible explosives have prevented an immediate assault on the location.

Bosso explained that the security agencies were exercising caution to avoid putting the lives of both the abducted victims and the rescue personnel at risk.

He said preparations were underway for security forces to enter the area with heavy-duty equipment, including bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers.

The commissioner said the objective was to gain access to the camp and rescue the victims safely.

The incident occurred on Thursday when gunmen reportedly intercepted two buses carrying prospective corps members travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

The attack took place along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in the Umunoha area of Imo State, the abductors took 19 passengers into the bush. The two drivers reportedly escaped and raised the alarm at a nearby security checkpoint.

Security agencies subsequently launched a search operation in the surrounding area.

The kidnappers have reportedly demanded a ransom of N50 million for each victim, bringing the total demand to N950 million.

Some families of the abducted prospective corps members have also reportedly received calls from the kidnappers using the victims' phones.

One of the victims' mothers, Mrs Oladosu, said her family was contacted through her daughter's phone. She also said the family was able to see some of the abducted victims during a video call.

Earlier, the Imo State Police Command announced that 10 people had been rescued during the operation. However, police spokesperson Henry Okoye was unable to confirm whether those rescued were among the prospective corps members abducted from the buses.

With the suspected camp now reportedly identified, security agencies are continuing preparations for an operation aimed at reaching the remaining victims while managing the reported explosive threat.

Authorities have not yet announced the safe release of the 19 prospective corps members.