Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has condemned the abduction of about 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members travelling to their orientation camp. In a statement posted on X on Sunday, he described the incident as another distressing indication of worsening insecurity in Nigeria.
“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. He called for their immediate and safe rescue and the arrest of those responsible.
Obi said young Nigerians preparing to serve the country could not travel safely, while their families were left worried about their safety. “These young Nigerians were preparing to serve their nation, but they were unable to travel safely on our roads,” he said. “Families are increasingly burdened by the fear that their loved ones could fall victim to kidnapping.”
He faulted what he described as the normalisation of insecurity. “We cannot continue to regard insecurity as an ordinary occurrence or act only after people’s lives have been disrupted,” he said. He urged the authorities to intensify efforts to secure the release of the abducted prospective corps members and ensure that those behind the attack are brought to justice.
This mirrors the pattern of violence against corps members that has persisted for over a decade. A 2023 report by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism revealed that at least 80 corps members were abducted between 2013 and 2023, with Rivers State accounting for half of the cases. The abduction underscores the failure of the risk-sensitive deployment framework approved by the Federal Executive Council in June 2026 as part of NYSC reforms. That framework remains on paper.
The human stakes are about the state’s obligation to its young people. The NYSC was established in 1973 to promote national integration. It compels graduates to serve in states other than their own, often in remote locations. If the state cannot guarantee their safety, it should not compel their service. The 20 abducted corps members were travelling to fulfil a mandatory obligation. They are now hostages.
Winners and Losers
Winners: The kidnappers, who have turned the national service programme into a revenue stream. Opposition politicians, who gain a platform to criticise the government’s security record.
Losers: The abducted corps members and their families. The NYSC, which has failed to protect the graduates it conscripts. The Federal Government, whose approved reforms have not translated into safer deployment.
Bottom Line: A country that summons its youths and abandons their security has broken a promise. The NYSC was meant to build national unity. It is now putting young Nigerians in harm’s way.