The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has strongly condemned the abduction of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers along the Owerri–Onitsha road in Imo State. The attack occurred on October 1, 2026, at about 6:30 a.m., involving two buses conveying NYSC members and other passengers travelling from Ibadan to orientation camps in the South-East and South-South. COSEYL described the incident as an unacceptable assault on the lives, dignity, and freedom of innocent Nigerians.
According to COSEYL President General, Comrade Goodluck Ibem, the Imo State Police Command confirmed the incident and announced the rescue of 10 victims, while efforts were ongoing to determine the exact number of people still in captivity. COSEYL called for the immediate and safe rescue of all remaining victims, urging security agencies to deploy all available intelligence, surveillance, tracking, and operational capabilities to locate those still in captivity.
COSEYL commended the security personnel involved in the operation that led to the recovery of 10 victims, urging them to sustain the effort until all those affected were accounted for and the perpetrators apprehended and brought to justice. The group also called on the Federal Government, Imo State Government, Nigeria Police Force, military, NYSC management, and other relevant authorities to strengthen security measures for corps members travelling to orientation camps.
The abduction has raised concerns about the safety of NYSC members, with COSEYL stressing that young Nigerians answering the call to national service must not become soft targets for kidnappers and criminal gangs. The group demanded a full-scale investigation into the attack, particularly how the criminals were able to operate along the Owerri–Onitsha corridor despite the presence of security checkpoints.
COSEYL also called for stronger cooperation among communities, transport operators, and security agencies in providing timely intelligence and reporting suspicious activities, noting that preventing such attacks required a collective effort. The group urged the authorities to maintain regular and transparent communication with the families of the victims, saying they should not be left to rely on rumours, social media reports, or conflicting information.
COSEYL emphasized that the NYSC scheme was established to promote national integration, stressing that every corps member travelling to serve Nigeria deserves protection. The group said it would continue to demand accountability and justice for the victims, urging the authorities to act with urgency. COSEYL also demanded the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators and their collaborators.
The incident has sparked widespread concern, with COSEYL stating that the South-East cannot afford to surrender its highways to kidnappers, nor can Nigeria continue to treat the abduction of innocent citizens as routine news. The group emphasized that every abducted Nigerian is somebody’s child, parent, sibling, or loved one, and every Nigerian has a right to move freely without living in fear of being kidnapped.
Key points
- COSEYL demands immediate rescue of abducted NYSC members in Imo State.
- The group condemns the attack as an unacceptable assault on innocent Nigerians.
- COSEYL calls for a full-scale investigation into the attack and stronger security measures for NYSC members.
