Afenifere Calls for NYSC Reform After 20 Graduates Kidnapped

Afenifere expressed dismay over the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who were kidnapped while traveling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their places of primary assignment. The incident occurred around Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Imo State, on September 30.

Afenifere urged the federal government to implement promised reforms to enhance the safety of the NYSC scheme and called for amendments to the NYSC Act to allow graduates to serve in their states of origin or within their geopolitical zones. The organization emphasized that long-distance travel exposes young Nigerians to security risks, including kidnapping.

The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N100 million per victim, later reducing it to N5 million per person. Afenifere's National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, reiterated the need for policy changes to minimize travel risks for corps members, a position the organization has advocated since 2021.