Atiku calls for rescue of abducted Corps members, Borno Students

By Zita Ifeanyichukwu

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has called on the Federal Government, Imo State Government and security agencies to urgently secure the release of travellers, including prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, still being held by kidnappers in Imo State.

In a statement on X on Monday, Atiku described the abduction of 20 travellers as heartbreaking, noting that although some of the victims had been rescued, others remained in captivity.

The former Vice President urged the authorities to intensify efforts to bring all those still being held safely back to their families.

The Imo incident occurred on October 1 when gunmen attacked two commercial buses conveying prospective corps members along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in the Umunoha area of Mbaitoli Local Government Area.

The travellers were reportedly heading from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when the attack occurred.

According to reports, the Imo State Police Command initially announced that 10 passengers had been rescued and the two buses recovered, while other passengers remained missing. Subsequent accounts from families indicated that 20 prospective corps members were among those abducted. (Punch Newspapers)

Security agencies have since intensified efforts to locate the victims. The Imo Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, said security operatives had traced the suspected kidnappers to a bush hideout using intelligence gathering and drone surveillance. (Punch Newspapers)

Atiku also raised concern over the prolonged captivity of children abducted from Mussa and Lassa in Borno State.

He said more than 70 pupils and students remained in captivity months after their abduction, stressing that their families deserved regular updates on efforts to secure their release.

The Mussa attack occurred on May 15, when suspected insurgents abducted dozens of children. The Borno State Government subsequently put the number of missing pupils at about 44, although different reports have given varying figures.

On June 29, suspected insurgents attacked Government Day Secondary School in Lassa while students were taking their National Examinations Council examinations. Thirty-six students and a teacher were subsequently reported to remain in captivity. (Premium Times Nigeria)

The prolonged captivity has triggered repeated calls from families, community leaders and lawmakers for intensified rescue operations. In September, parents and community members from Mussa and Lassa protested in Maiduguri and demanded urgent government action. (The Guardian Nigeria)

The House of Representatives also called for urgent efforts to secure the release of abducted schoolchildren in Borno, with a lawmaker representing Askira/Uba and Hawul Federal Constituency raising concerns over the prolonged captivity of victims from Mussa and Lassa. (Arise News)

Atiku also criticised the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity, arguing that Nigerians remained vulnerable to kidnappers on highways, in communities and around schools.

He questioned the government’s security priorities, referring to President Bola Tinubu’s earlier position that savings from the removal of the petrol subsidy would help fund security.

The former Vice President argued that young Nigerians were facing security and economic challenges at different stages of their lives, from insecurity in secondary schools to difficulties meeting university costs and the risks faced while travelling to NYSC orientation camps.

Atiku also criticised the award of pipeline security contracts to companies he described as politically connected, arguing that government’s primary responsibility should be the protection of lives.

He said the immediate priority should be the safe return of all abducted persons still in captivity.

The former Vice President, however, said his commitment to building a safer and more affordable Nigeria remained unchanged, adding that young Nigerians should be able to create, build and prosper in the country.