Nineteen prospective members of Nigeria's National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were abducted by unknown gunmen on Thursday while en route to their orientation camp in the South-East. The victims, who were traveling in two buses, were ambushed along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State. The kidnappers blocked the vehicles and took the 19 passengers into the bush.
The abducted corps members were graduates of various institutions, including Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, and Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Benue. They were on their way to the NYSC orientation camp for their formal swearing-in ceremony, scheduled for Friday, October 2. The kidnappers have reportedly demanded a ransom of N50 million for each victim, totaling N950 million.
The parents of the abducted corps members are in a state of panic and anxiety, awaiting news of their children's safe return. Mrs Alimot Akande, an Ibadan-based woman, confirmed that her daughter was among the 19 prospective NYSC members kidnapped. She appealed to President Bola Tinubu and security agencies to rescue her daughter and the others unhurt.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for the immediate rescue of the abducted prospective corps members. In a statement dated October 3, 2026, NANS expressed concern over the reported abduction and urged security agencies to intensify efforts towards the safe and immediate rescue of the victims.
The kidnapping has renewed calls for a review or outright scrapping of the NYSC scheme. Clare Marie Ukaegbu, a former corps member, described the incident as another indication of the dangers confronting young Nigerians deployed under the scheme. She questioned the relevance of maintaining the scheme amid persistent security challenges.
The ransom demand has been condemned by many, as it is illegal under Nigeria's Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022. However, with the lives of the victims at risk, the families are left with a difficult decision. The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has been appealed to for assistance in securing the release of the victims.
The incident has highlighted the security challenges faced by young Nigerians, particularly those participating in the NYSC scheme. The government and security agencies have been urged to take concrete steps to ensure the safe release of the abducted corps members and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Key points
- The kidnappers have demanded a ransom of N50 million for each of the 19 abducted corps members.
- The National Association of Nigerian Students has called for the immediate rescue of the abducted prospective corps members.
- The incident has renewed calls for a review or outright scrapping of the NYSC scheme due to persistent security challenges.
