Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has called for the immediate and safe rescue of about 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted while travelling to their orientation camps, describing the incident as another troubling sign of worsening insecurity in Nigeria.
Obi made the demand in a statement posted on his verified X account on Sunday, October 4, 2026, following the abduction of the young graduates along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State.
He said the incident was distressing because young Nigerians preparing to undertake national service could not travel safely within the country without fear of becoming victims of kidnapping.
“The abduction of approximately 20 prospective NYSC members travelling to their orientation camp is yet another distressing indication of the worsening insecurity in our country,” Obi said.
The former governor said the government’s primary responsibility was to protect the lives and property of citizens, arguing that insecurity should not become an ordinary occurrence that only attracts attention after victims have been taken.
“We cannot continue to regard insecurity as an ordinary occurrence or act only after people’s lives have been disrupted,” he said.
Obi called on security agencies to secure the immediate and safe release of the abducted prospective corps members and arrest those responsible for the attack.
He also expressed concern about the wider implications of insecurity for young Nigerians, saying the country should become a place where citizens can travel, work and participate in national service without fear.
The abduction occurred on Thursday, October 1, when two buses carrying prospective corps members and other passengers were attacked near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
The buses were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, towards different destinations in the South-East and South-South, including orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states, when suspected armed men intercepted them.
The Imo State Police Command said it responded to the attack and recovered the two buses. It initially announced that 10 victims had been rescued and said the precise number of people abducted was still being verified.
The police subsequently intensified the search for those still missing, deploying tactical teams and coordinating with other security agencies in an effort to locate the victims and apprehend the attackers.
On Saturday, October 3, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the rescue operation.
The police said Nadada arrived in the state with two commissioners of police and conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the operation. Additional personnel and operational resources were deployed, while intelligence-led tracking was being used to locate the suspected abductors.
The police said the operation would continue until the abducted persons were rescued.
Meanwhile, the families of the missing prospective corps members have raised fresh concerns over the situation, appealing for assistance as they seek the return of their children.
The parents visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at his residence in Bodija, Ibadan, on Saturday. They were accompanied by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri.
During the meeting, the families said the abductors had demanded N50 million for each victim, putting the reported total ransom demand at N1 billion for 20 people.
The parents also said the kidnappers had given them a 24-hour deadline to provide the money.
The reported ransom demand has added urgency to the rescue efforts, with families appealing to authorities and community leaders to help secure the safe return of their loved ones.
Some parents have also raised concerns about their attempts to obtain information that could assist the rescue operation. One affected mother called for an investigation into the transport arrangements and urged the authorities to ensure that any person found culpable of withholding useful information was held accountable.
The police have not publicly confirmed that the reported N1 billion ransom has been paid, nor have they announced that the victims have been released.
There has also been some variation in early reports about the precise number of people abducted during the attack. The Imo State Police Command initially said the number was still being verified after 10 people were rescued. Later police communications and reports involving the families referred to 20 abducted persons.
That distinction remains important as the rescue operation continues, particularly because the authorities have been working to establish the identities and number of those still missing.
The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of Nigerians travelling on major highways, particularly young people moving between states for education, employment and national service.
For Obi, the attack is evidence that insecurity remains a serious national challenge requiring stronger preventive action rather than responses only after kidnappings have occurred.
His latest intervention follows previous calls by the former governor for government and security agencies to improve intelligence gathering, prevent attacks and ensure that perpetrators of violent crimes are brought to justice.
In his Sunday statement, Obi emphasised that national service should not expose young Nigerians to unacceptable danger.
He called for a country where young people could move freely, pursue opportunities and serve their country without living under constant fear of abduction.
The immediate priority, however, remains the rescue operation in Imo State. Security agencies are continuing their search for the abducted prospective corps members, while their families await further information on their condition and whereabouts.
The police have urged members of the public with credible information that could assist the operation to contact security authorities, assuring that the rescue effort would continue.
As of Sunday, October 4, there had been no official announcement confirming the release of all 20 victims. The police operation therefore remains ongoing, while families continue to appeal for urgent intervention.
The incident has placed renewed attention on the security of prospective NYSC members travelling to orientation camps and the broader challenge of protecting citizens on Nigeria’s roads.
For the families involved, the immediate demand is simple: that their children return home safely. For the authorities, the continuing operation will be closely watched as security agencies attempt to locate the victims, secure their release and bring those responsible for the attack to justice.
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