Obi also argued that protecting lives and property remains the government’s foremost responsibility.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on the government to secure the immediate and safe return of all 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted while travelling to their respective orientation camps.
The former Anambra State governor made the demand on Sunday in a now-trending post he shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) page.
Twenty graduates travelling from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to their respective NYSC orientation camps in two buses on Thursday were reportedly attacked by gunmen along the Owerri–Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State, and subsequently kidnapped.
The assailants later contacted the families of their victims and demanded £50m [or ₦50m] for each person, bringing the total ransom to £1bn [or ₦1bn].
Reacting to the abduction, Obi described it as another disturbing indication of the worsening insecurity in Nigeria, saying young Nigerians preparing to serve their country should not be forced to travel in fear.
He added that the incident was a distressing reminder that insecurity was becoming increasingly prevalent in the country.
Taking to his verified handle, he wrote, “These young Nigerians were preparing to serve their nation, but they were unable to travel safely on our roads. Families are increasingly burdened by the fear that their loved ones could fall victim to kidnapping.”
Obi further stressed that protecting lives and property remained the foremost responsibility of government.
He urged the authorities to immediately rescue all the abducted corps members and arrest those responsible for the attack.
“We cannot continue to regard insecurity as an ordinary occurrence or act only after people’s lives have been disrupted,” Obi added.
In his words, Nigeria must become a country where young people can travel, work, and serve their nation without fear.
“I call for the immediate and safe rescue of all the abducted corps members and the arrest of those responsible,” Obi further said.
