The kidnapping of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State has sparked worries over the nation’s capacity to safeguard young Nigerians undertaking a compulsory civic duty. These graduates were en route to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when armed assailants intercepted their two buses near Umunoha on the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State on Thursday, October 1.
The demand for N1 billion ransom and the threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in a suspected kidnappers’ camp have stalled efforts to rescue the captives. Parents of the victims said the abductors demanded N50m for each of the 20 captives, giving the families 24 hours to produce the money.
One of the parents, Alhaja Akande, told Oba Rashidi Ladoja, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, that the families could not raise the money. The parents said the kidnappers had been contacting families through the victims’ phones.
Kidnappers’ Camp Located
Audu Bosso, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, said drone surveillance helped locate the suspected camp after operatives trailed the kidnappers into the bush but did not immediately advance. Bosso said intelligence showed the camp was mined with IEDs, and operatives needed heavier equipment, including armoured carriers and bulldozers, before advancing.
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Olatunji Disu, the Inspector-General of Police, has since deployed Shehu Nadada, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, and two Commissioners of Police to reinforce the operation. However, the conflicting accounts of how 10 passengers regained their freedom after the attack have created uncertainty around the outcome of the initial security response.
While the Imo State Police Command said security operatives rescued 10 passengers following the attack, the families maintained that no rescue took place, insisting that the 10 escaped into the bush while the gunmen took the remaining 20 away. As of Sunday, October 4, security agencies have not publicly reconciled the different accounts of how the 10 passengers regained their freedom.
Familiar Danger for NYSC Travellers
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that Nigerians have paid an estimated N2.23 trillion in ransom to kidnappers during a recent 12-month survey period. Among these ransoms are many paid by NYSC corps members. The recent Imo attack is at least the third reported abduction involving corps members travelling for the scheme in 2026.
In January, prospective corps member Binuyo Lateefah was abducted around Kogi while travelling to an orientation camp in Taraba State. Her abductors reportedly demanded N30m. Another group was attacked in Kogi in August while travelling from the NYSC orientation camp in Bayelsa State to Abuja. Initial reports said 15 corps members were abducted, although NYSC subsequently put the number at 16.
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The victims of the latest Imo abduction appeared to have followed the NYSC’s safety guidelines, stopping overnight after traffic delayed the trip around Benin and resuming early Thursday. They were attacked at about 6:30 am, showing that the risk is not restricted to night travel. The sequence of attacks highlights the need for increased security measures to protect corps members.
The NYSC and Nigeria Police Force had publicly renewed their commitment to protecting corps members just months before the latest incident. During an April meeting with the police leadership, NYSC Director-General Olakunle Nafiu asked for maximum security for corps members and NYSC officials “within and outside the Orientation Camps”. However, the latest incident shows the risk in the current arrangement, where prospective corps members can be abducted on their way to their assigned camps. The abductors’ demand for ransom remains a major obstacle in the rescue efforts.
Need for Increased Security Measures
The sequence of attacks on NYSC corps members shows that the risk is not restricted to night travel. Stopping overnight did not prevent an attack after the journey resumed in the morning. The NYSC has arrangements for the security and welfare of corps members, but prospective corps members still largely make their own way to orientation camps across the country.
