Youth Advocate Calls for NYSC Safety After Abduction Incident

Amb. Ajayi Taiwo Adeola, the Founder and Director of Youth Advocacy and Policy at the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), has urged for stronger safety measures for prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members following an abduction incident on October 1, 2026.

The attack occurred on the Owerri-Onitsha road in Imo state, where gunmen ambushed two buses transporting prospective corps members from Ibadan, Oyo state, to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states. The Imo state Police Command confirmed that 10 victims were rescued, while efforts to locate others still in captivity are ongoing.

Adeola emphasized the need for immediate action to ensure the safe recovery of all abducted individuals and called for a comprehensive review of security arrangements for graduates traveling to NYSC camps. He stated that the incident should prompt concrete policy discussions regarding the safety of young Nigerians in national service.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) also raised questions about the circumstances of the attack, alleging suspicious behavior from the bus drivers involved.