Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has strongly advocated for the swift and secure liberation of approximately 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who were reportedly seized by gunmen while en route to their designated orientation camp.
Obi made the call in a post on X, describing the incident as another indication of worsening insecurity in Nigeria.
“The abduction of approximately 20 prospective NYSC members travelling to their orientation camp is yet another distressing indication of the worsening insecurity in our country,” Obi said.
He expressed concern that the young Nigerians were unable to travel safely on the nation’s roads, adding that families were increasingly burdened by fears that their loved ones could become victims of kidnapping.
According to Obi, protecting lives and property remains the government’s foremost responsibility.
“We cannot continue to regard insecurity as an ordinary occurrence or act only after people’s lives have been disrupted,” he said.
Obi called for the immediate rescue of the abducted corps members and the arrest of those responsible for the incident.
“I call for the immediate and safe rescue of all the abducted corps members and the arrest of those responsible,” he said.
He also called for a Nigeria where young people can travel, work and participate in national service without fear.
“Nigeria must become a country where young people can travel, work, and serve their nation without fear,” Obi said.
TVC News reported that the 20 graduates were travelling from Ibadan to their NYSC orientation camps on Thursday when gunmen attacked the two buses conveying them along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.
However, in recent developments, the parents of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members kidnapped said their abductors gave them 24 hours to pay N1bn ransom for their release.
What You Should Know
This breaking incident highlights the escalating security challenges facing Nigerian citizens, particularly on major interstate roadways. The kidnapping of young graduates traveling for mandatory national service has sparked widespread fear among families and raised urgent questions regarding travel safety across the country.
- Positive Impact: High-profile advocacy from prominent political figures like Peter Obi brings immediate national attention to the plight of the victims, increasing pressure on security agencies to act swiftly.
- Potential Concerns: The incident severely heightens travel anxieties for prospective corps members and their families, while the reported N1 billion ransom demand places immense pressure on loved ones and underscores the brazen nature of criminal networks.
