Parent Seeks Tinubu’s Intervention After Prospective NYSC Members Abducted in Imo

A distressed parent has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the rescue of prospective National Youth Service Corps members who were abducted while travelling to their orientation camps in the South-East and South-South.

The incident occurred on Thursday, October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day, along the Owerri-Onitsha Road near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.

The victims were travelling in buses from Ibadan, Oyo State, towards different NYSC orientation camps when armed men reportedly intercepted the vehicles and forced some of the passengers into the surrounding bush.

The attack occurred in the early hours of the morning, with the police placing the time at about 6:30 a.m.

The development caused panic among the families of the prospective corps members, particularly after some of the victims managed to send distress messages to their relatives during the attack.

One of the affected parents said her daughter, identified as Kehinde, was travelling towards an NYSC camp in Akwa Ibom State when she alerted the family WhatsApp group with a brief message indicating that kidnappers had attacked the vehicle.

The message immediately raised alarm among family members who were unable to establish contact with her afterwards.

Other passengers were also said to have communicated with relatives or sent videos from the scene, increasing fears that a large number of people had been taken into the bush.

The parent subsequently appealed directly to the President and the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, asking them to use all available security resources to secure the safe return of the abducted passengers.

The appeal came as security agencies intensified efforts to locate the victims and apprehend those responsible for the attack.

The Imo State Police Command said two buses carrying prospective corps members and other passengers had come under attack.

Following the response of security operatives, both buses were recovered and 10 people were rescued at the scene.

The rescued victims were taken to safety and were receiving attention, while security personnel continued efforts to determine exactly how many passengers had been taken away.

The police said the number of abducted persons would be officially disclosed after the verification process was completed.

The uncertainty surrounding the number of victims has contributed to anxiety among families who are still waiting for information about their relatives.

Some reports circulating after the attack put the number of affected NYSC members much higher, with one account listing about 20 prospective corps members among those abducted.

However, the police have not confirmed that figure as the final number and have maintained that verification was still ongoing.

The conflicting figures have made it difficult for families to determine the exact number of people still being held by the attackers.

Authorities have since deployed tactical teams and other operational assets to the area, working alongside sister security agencies in an effort to locate the abducted passengers.

The operation reportedly includes intelligence-led tracking and searches of surrounding areas where the victims may have been taken.

Security commanders also visited the scene of the attack to assess the situation and coordinate the ongoing response.

The affected stretch of the highway was subsequently reopened to traffic, while security personnel remained deployed along the route to protect commuters and prevent further attacks.

The incident has nevertheless renewed concerns about the safety of Nigerians travelling on major highways, particularly prospective NYSC members who are required to travel to orientation camps at the beginning of each service cycle.

The NYSC orientation exercise requires thousands of young Nigerians to travel from their home states to designated camps across the country.

Many of them depend on commercial buses for the journey, making highway security a major concern whenever a new mobilisation cycle begins.

The Imo attack has therefore generated questions about the security arrangements available to protect corps members during their movement to orientation camps.

Families who send their children across long distances for the mandatory national service programme expect them to arrive safely at their destinations.

The abduction has heightened anxiety among parents and relatives whose children are currently travelling or preparing to travel to camps.

For the families of those affected, the immediate priority remains the safe return of their loved ones.

The appeal to the President reflects the desperation of relatives who want the federal security authorities to take every necessary step to ensure that the victims are rescued without harm.

The incident also highlights the continuing challenge of kidnapping on Nigerian highways.

Travellers have repeatedly raised concerns about attacks along isolated stretches of major roads, where criminals can block vehicles, force passengers into nearby forests and escape before security personnel arrive.

The Owerri-Onitsha corridor has previously attracted security concerns, with reports of attacks and kidnappings along parts of the route.

The latest incident has consequently renewed calls for stronger surveillance, increased patrols and faster emergency response on the highway.

Beyond the immediate rescue operation, there are also concerns about how prospective corps members can be better protected during mobilisation.

Authorities may need to review transportation arrangements, establish safer travel windows and strengthen coordination between NYSC officials, transport operators and security agencies.

Families may also require more reliable channels for receiving timely information when incidents occur.

In the latest case, the initial distress messages from victims became an important indication that something had gone wrong before authorities could fully establish the scale of the attack.

Such communication can be crucial during kidnapping incidents because it may help investigators identify the location, timing and circumstances of an attack.

However, families are also vulnerable to misinformation during such crises, particularly when unverified numbers and claims begin circulating on social media.

For this reason, official confirmation remains important as the search operation continues.

The police have appealed to members of the public with credible information to contact the appropriate authorities rather than spreading unverified claims.

The incident has also raised concerns about the psychological impact on families whose relatives are suddenly taken while travelling.

Parents who have no information about the condition or location of their children can experience prolonged anxiety, particularly when communication with the victims is completely cut off.

For the affected families, the Independence Day celebration was overshadowed by uncertainty and fear.

Instead of marking the national holiday normally, relatives spent the day trying to establish contact with their loved ones and seeking information about the rescue effort.

The situation has also generated renewed discussion about the safety of the NYSC programme itself.

The scheme was established to promote national integration by deploying young graduates to states outside their areas of origin.

Over the years, corps members have served in communities across Nigeria, often travelling long distances and living in areas unfamiliar to them.

While the programme remains an important national institution, incidents involving corps members on highways have repeatedly raised questions about how much protection should be provided to participants during mobilisation and deployment.

The latest abduction has therefore placed additional pressure on authorities to demonstrate that security remains a priority for young Nigerians participating in the programme.

For the families whose children remain missing, however, broader policy discussions are secondary to the immediate need for rescue.

They want security agencies to locate the victims, secure their release and return them safely to their families.

The appeal to President Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police reflects that urgency.

As the search operation continues, authorities are expected to gather intelligence, examine the circumstances surrounding the attack and pursue those responsible.

Investigators will also need to establish whether the attack was specifically targeted at prospective corps members or whether they were among other passengers caught up in a broader highway robbery or kidnapping operation.

The identity and motive of the attackers also remain subjects for investigation.

The fact that both buses were recovered while some victims remained missing could provide investigators with important evidence about how the attack was carried out.

Security agencies are expected to examine the vehicles, the surrounding area and other available information as they attempt to reconstruct what happened.

The government will also face pressure to reassure families that everything possible is being done to secure the release of those still missing.

For the victims’ relatives, every hour is significant as the search continues.

The incident has once again exposed the dangers faced by travellers on some Nigerian highways and the vulnerability of young Nigerians moving between states for education, employment and national service.

It has also demonstrated how quickly a routine journey can turn into a life-threatening situation when armed groups intercept vehicles on isolated roads.

Until the victims are safely reunited with their families, attention will remain focused on the rescue operation in Imo State.

The families are hoping that the combined efforts of the police, military and other security agencies will lead to a successful rescue and that those responsible for the attack will be identified and brought to justice.

For now, the most urgent demand from the affected families is clear: they want their children and relatives brought home safely.