On October 1, 20 prospective corps members were abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State while traveling in two commercial buses to Abia and Akwa Ibom states. The kidnappers demanded N50m per graduate, but the families eventually paid N6m each for their release. The victims were released on Wednesday and are now set to continue their national service in the South-West region.
According to a parent who spoke to newsmen, the survivors were allowed to choose the states where they would continue their service. The parent, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that the families paid N6m in ransom for each of the graduates. Another relative, Joy Zainab, expressed gratitude to family members, well-wishers, and those who contributed financially towards the ransom.
Alirat Wahab, the mother of one of the victims, disclosed that her family initially paid N50m per head but eventually agreed to pay N6m after negotiations. The kidnappers directed the families to send representatives to Ibadan, Oyo State, where they met an intermediary. The money was transferred into a designated account and converted into US dollars upon arrival in Imo State.
The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, claimed that the graduates were rescued through sustained pressure from security agencies, but the families disputed this, insisting that ransom was paid for their release. The police took the graduates to the Department of State Services hospital in Owerri for medical evaluation. The NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, visited them alongside the Imo State Commissioner of Police and the Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade.
A survivor expressed gratitude for surviving the ordeal, thanking God for their safe release. The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of prospective corps members traveling long distances to orientation camps. This is not an isolated incident, as 15 prospective corps members were abducted in Kogi State in August and later rescued.
The recurring attacks have intensified debate over the relevance of the 53-year-old NYSC scheme, with critics questioning the policy of deploying young graduates far from their home states amid rising insecurity. The NYSC was established to promote national reconciliation, reconstruction, and integration after the Nigerian Civil War. In June, the Federal Executive Council approved a comprehensive reform package for the NYSC, including risk-sensitive deployment aimed at improving corps members' safety.
Some have advocated scrapping the scheme, citing widespread security concerns. A former corps member, Veronica Oloko, argued that young Nigerians should not be exposed to severe security risks. A parent, Akeem Kareem, also supported calls to scrap the scheme, citing fear among parents due to insecurity. The incident has raised questions about how the safety measures will be implemented, particularly for graduates traveling long distances to orientation camps and those posted to areas facing security threats.
Key points
- The kidnapped graduates were offered postings in any of the six South-West states.
- The families paid N6m in ransom for each of the graduates.
- The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of prospective corps members traveling long distances to orientation camps.
