The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has called for the immediate rescue of National Youth Service Corps members abducted in Imo State.
The corps members, who are graduates of tertiary institutions in Oyo State, were travelling from Ibadan to the NYSC orientation camp in Bende, Abia State, when they were reportedly ambushed around 6:30 a.m. on October 1.
The attack occurred along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway around Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
Adebayo made the call in a statement signed by Comrade Mark Adebayo, Head of Media and Communications for the Adewole Adebayo-Bugaje Presidential Campaign, on Friday.
Ten victims were reportedly rescued at the scene by security operatives, while other corps members remained in captivity.
Condemning the attack, Adebayo described the abduction as an unacceptable assault on young Nigerians participating in the national service scheme.
“This cowardly attack on young citizens serving their fatherland is an unacceptable assault on the nation’s future,” he said.
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The SDP candidate called on the Inspector-General of Police, military authorities and the Imo State Commissioner of Police to deploy all available rapid-response resources towards securing the release of the remaining victims.
“We cannot fold our arms while the youth of this nation, who have committed themselves to national integration and service, are hunted down like game on public highways,” Adebayo said.
“Our security agencies must act with absolute urgency. This is a race against time, and no stone must be left unturned until every single corps member is brought back alive.”
Adebayo also appealed to the governors of Anambra, Abia and Imo states to prioritise the rescue operation and deploy available state security resources towards securing the abducted corps members.
“I am calling on the Governors of Anambra, Abia, and Imo states to drop everything they are doing right now. Shut down governance if you must, suspend political bickerings, and concentrate 100% of your state security resources on rescuing these young Nigerians,” he said.
He stressed that the protection of citizens should remain a central responsibility of government, particularly while the corps members remained in captivity.
“The primary purpose of government is the security and welfare of the people. Right now, your children are in the den of kidnappers; nothing else should matter until they are safely recovered,” Adebayo stated.