Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the abduction of about 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State, warning that insecurity must not be allowed to become a new normal in Nigeria.
Obi, in a statement posted on his official X handle on Sunday, described the incident as another distressing indication of the worsening insecurity across the country.
“The abduction of approximately 20 prospective NYSC members travelling to their orientation camp is yet another distressing indication of the worsening insecurity in our country,” Obi said.
The prospective corps members were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom when gunmen attacked their buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.
Obi said the victims were young Nigerians preparing to serve their nation but could not travel safely on the nation’s roads, a situation that has left many families living in fear.
“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,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor stressed that protecting lives and property remains the foremost responsibility of government and criticised what he described as the normalisation of insecurity.
“We cannot continue to regard insecurity as an ordinary occurrence or act only after people’s lives have been disrupted,” Obi stated.
He called for the immediate and safe rescue of all the abducted corps members and demanded the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the attack.
“I call for the immediate and safe rescue of all the abducted corps members and the arrest of those responsible. Nigeria must become a country where young people can travel, work, and serve their nation without fear,” Obi added.
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