- Prospective NYSC members traveling from Ibadan to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom were attacked by gunmen along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State on Thursday.
- Security agencies located the suspected hideout of the kidnappers but delayed an advance due to IED threats, deploying drones and preparing bulldozers and APCs.
- Parents disputed police claims of 10 rescued, insisting that 20 remain in captivity, and reported a 24-hour ultimatum for N50m ransom per victim.
- Political reactions emerged, with the Makinde campaign blaming Tinubu's security laxity and Sowore calling for NYSC suspension.
- The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, disclosed that operatives had located the suspected camp where the victims were being held but could not immediately move in because of the IED threat.
- Parents reported that the kidnappers threatened to harm their children if the ransom was not paid within the stipulated period, demanding N50m for each victim.
- The Oyo State Government condemned the abduction and directed that necessary resources be deployed to support efforts to secure the victims’ release.
- The African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, called for the immediate suspension and eventual scrapping of the NYSC scheme, arguing it has outlived its usefulness.
The Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation has condemned President Bola Tinubu's handling of security, linking it to the recent abduction of 19 NYSC members in Imo State. The incident highlights a broader security crisis, with the campaign alleging that over 600,000 Nigerians have died due to insecurity under Tinubu's administration.
The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, confirmed that rescue operations are hindered by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at the kidnappers' hideout. “But our predicament is that with the intel we have, the camp is mined with IEDs,” Bosso stated. Security forces are preparing to use bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers for the operation.5
The abduction occurred when the victims were traveling from Ibadan to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states. Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the number of victims, with parents claiming that 20 corps members remain in captivity, despite police reports of 10 rescues. The kidnappers have demanded N50m for each victim, totaling N1bn, with threats of harm if the ransom is not paid.
In response, Omoyele Sowore, a presidential candidate, has called for the suspension of the NYSC scheme, suggesting it has outlived its usefulness and proposing a new National Job Corps focused on employment and skills development.8
“Security agencies have located the kidnappers' camp but cannot advance due to mines, prompting plans to deploy bulldozers and APCs. Parents dispute official rescue numbers, insisting 20 remain captive and face a 24-hour N50m ransom ultimatum, while the Makinde campaign alleges over 600,000 Nigerians killed under Tinubu.”
