Tears are flowing in Ibadan, Oyo State, as parents of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted by bandits on the eastern highway are lamenting their fate. The abduction occurred on October 3, 2026, while the corps members were traveling to Abia State for their NYSC deployment. The bandits demanded a ransom of N50 million per head for their release. The parents, who gathered at the Oyo State Government Secretariat, expressed their grief and frustration, pleading with the government to rescue their children.
The abduction took place near Owerri, Imo State, at around 7:00 am on October 3, 2026. The bus, operated by Uko Akwa Ibom Motors, was carrying 29 passengers, including the 19 abducted corps members. About 10 passengers were rescued or escaped during the initial chaotic exchange. The abducted corps members include fresh university graduates, such as twins and alumni of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH). The parents recounted the emotional departure of their children from Ibadan, where they had bade farewell to their loved ones at a commercial motor park.
Deaconess Kemi Makinde, a local trader, whose child was among those who boarded the ill-fated vehicle, recalled the departure through a stream of tears. She expressed her agony and prayed for the safe return of her child. The parents are seeking government intervention to rescue their children and bring the perpetrators to justice. They are also questioning the NYSC posting policies, which they believe put their children in harm's way by deploying them to distant and perilous regions.
Mrs. Rebecca Adewale, a fashion designer, whose 26-year-old son, Paul Iyanuoluwa Adewale, was abducted, recounted her son's frantic morning call, describing his torment and hunger in captivity. She expressed her desperation and pleaded with the government to stop deploying young graduates to distant regions and instead allow them to serve within the relative safety of their home states. Her husband, Mr. Omotosho Emmanuel Adewale, also recounted the harrowing timeline of their son's disappearance.
The parents are wracked with sorrow, and some have collapsed or are kneeling in despair, crying out to the authorities to rescue their children. The Oyo State Government has not officially commented on the incident, but the police have assured that they are working round the clock to rescue the abducted corps members. The incident has sparked widespread concern and outrage, with many calling for improved security measures to protect NYSC members.
The demand for N50 million per head has been described as a death sentence for the families, who are already struggling to survive in a country with a high cost of living. The parents are seeking government assistance to secure the release of their children. The NYSC scheme is a mandatory program for fresh university graduates, aimed at promoting national unity and development.
The abduction has also raised concerns about the safety of NYSC members and the need for improved security measures to protect them. The incident has sparked a national outcry, with many calling for the government to take decisive action to rescue the abducted corps members and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Key points
- The parents of the abducted NYSC members are pleading with the government to rescue their children and bring the perpetrators to justice.
- The abduction has sparked widespread concern and outrage, with many calling for improved security measures to protect NYSC members.
- The demand for N50 million per head has been described as a death sentence for the families, who are already struggling to survive in a country with a high cost of living.
