Afenifere, NANS, CUPP Demand Release of Abducted NYSC Members in Imo

Afenifere, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) have piled pressure on the Federal Government to secure the immediate release of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State.

CUPP urged security chiefs to take proactive steps and personally take charge of operations to secure the victims’ release. The coalition condemned the abduction, stressing that the graduates were simply fulfilling a national obligation.

“These young Nigerians were not criminals or combatants. They were graduates responding to a national obligation. Their only offence was travelling on a Nigerian road,” CUPP said.

Afenifere, in a statement issued Monday, also condemned the incident and sympathized with the families of the victims. The group argued that the risk of kidnapping for prospective corps members would reduce significantly if they weren’t required to travel such long distances for NYSC, given Nigeria’s current security situation.

“The idea here is to reduce the tendency of a prospective corps member to travel from one part of the country to another for the purpose of serving the country under the NYSC policy,” the group said.

Meanwhile, the Southwest Zone D chapter of NANS raised concerns over alleged ransom demands of up to ₦50 million for some of the abducted prospective corps members.

In a statement signed by the chapter’s Coordinator, Adeyemo Josiah; General Secretary, Ojetola Babatunde; and Public Relations Officer, Olugbemi Timothy, the association described the situation as a serious security concern requiring urgent government action.

NANS called on the Federal Government to review compulsory long-distance postings under NYSC and introduce safer deployment and transportation arrangements for prospective corps members. The group argued that since the government mandates the service, it should take greater responsibility for the safety of graduates required to travel long distances.

“A country cannot summon its youths and abandon their security,” the association said.

The prospective corps members were abducted near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State while travelling towards Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and Bende, Abia State.