Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) senatorial candidate for Oyo Central, Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign and abandon any plan to seek re-election in 2027, citing the worsening insecurity in Nigeria and the abduction of prospective National Youth Service Corps members in Imo State.
Ajadi made the call on Thursday, October 1, 2026, after gunmen attacked two buses carrying prospective corps members travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their National Youth Service Corps orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The attack occurred at about 6:30 a.m. along the Owerri-Onitsha Road around Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. Police authorities confirmed that the attackers intercepted the buses and abducted passengers, including prospective corps members.
Initial reports put the number of abducted prospective corps members at 19, although police authorities initially reported that about 20 corps members and other passengers were affected while efforts were underway to establish the exact number.
The incident immediately triggered a search-and-rescue operation involving the Imo State Police Command and other security agencies. The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, also deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the operation.
Police later reported that 10 victims had been rescued, although authorities continued efforts to locate those still in captivity.
By Saturday, October 3, Imo State Commissioner of Police Audu Garba Bosso said security agencies had identified the location where the remaining prospective corps members were believed to be held. He explained that operatives had used drones and intelligence-led tracking to locate the suspected camp but had not immediately moved in because of intelligence indicating that the area could have been fitted with improvised explosive devices.
The development came as families of the abducted prospective corps members faced reports of ransom demands. Several media outlets reported that kidnappers were demanding ₦50 million for each of 19 victims, potentially putting the total demand at ₦950 million. The ransom figure had not been independently verified by police authorities.
It was against this backdrop that Ajadi criticised the Federal Government's handling of insecurity and demanded greater accountability from the President.
“If these corps members are unable to be rescued, then Mr President should resign,” Ajadi said.
He argued that young Nigerians travelling to participate in the national service programme should be able to travel safely and that protecting citizens remained a fundamental responsibility of government.
Ajadi also urged Tinubu to abandon any intention of contesting the 2027 presidential election if his administration could not provide effective solutions to the country's security challenges.
“Tinubu should resign because he has not been able to meet the responsibility of solving the insecurity in the nation. He should not bother to contest in the 2027 general election. He should rather resign now,” he said.
The APM candidate described the abduction as unacceptable, particularly because the victims were young graduates travelling to fulfil their national service obligations.
He appealed to security agencies to sustain search-and-rescue operations until all those still in captivity were safely recovered. He also called on Nigerians with useful information about the abductors or their whereabouts to provide such information to the authorities.
Ajadi's latest comments are not his first call for Tinubu to resign over insecurity. In June, following the abduction of residents in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, he similarly called on the President to take responsibility for the country's security situation and resign.
At the time, Ajadi argued that persistent kidnapping and violent crime were undermining economic activity, agriculture, education, investment and social stability. He also advocated stronger intelligence gathering, improved security personnel welfare, modern surveillance technology and closer cooperation between federal security agencies and state-backed security outfits.
His latest intervention, however, comes amid heightened national concern over attacks targeting travellers on major highways and the security risks faced by young Nigerians travelling to NYSC orientation camps.
The Imo incident has also raised concerns about the safety arrangements for prospective corps members travelling long distances to their states of deployment. The NYSC programme requires graduates from across Nigeria to travel to designated orientation camps, sometimes across several states.
The attack occurred only weeks after another incident in which corps members were among passengers reportedly abducted along a major highway in Kogi State, highlighting concerns about the vulnerability of travellers on some interstate routes.
Ajadi said the Federal Government should strengthen security along major highways and ensure that young Nigerians travelling for national service receive adequate protection.
The politician's comments also carry a political dimension as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections. Ajadi is seeking the Oyo Central senatorial seat under the APM, while President Tinubu is widely expected to seek another term, although the political landscape remains fluid.
By linking the President's continued stay in office and possible 2027 candidacy to the government's handling of insecurity, Ajadi has made the safety of Nigerians a central issue in his criticism of the administration.
The Federal Government has continued to maintain that security agencies are working to confront kidnapping, terrorism, banditry and other forms of criminality across the country. The rescue operation in Imo remains ongoing, with security authorities focused on recovering those still missing.
The police have not publicly confirmed that the reported ₦50 million ransom demand has been paid or that negotiations with the abductors have taken place. They have also not publicly confirmed the identities of all those still being held.
For the families affected, the immediate priority remains the safe recovery of their relatives. For Ajadi, however, the incident has become another reason to demand stronger action from the Federal Government and to question whether Tinubu should continue in office.
As security agencies continue their efforts in Imo State, the outcome of the rescue operation could determine the next stage of the political debate surrounding the incident. Ajadi has made his position clear: he wants Tinubu to resign if the government cannot secure the abducted prospective corps members and believes the President should abandon any 2027 re-election bid over the country's security challenges.
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