“Nigeria Must Become A Country Where Young People Can Travel Without Fear” — Peter Obi Condemns Abduction Of 20 NYSC Members
The NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the abduction of about 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) travelling to their orientation camp, describing it as another distressing indication of worsening insecurity in the country.
In a statement issued on Sunday and personally signed by him, Obi said the incident is a sad reminder that young Nigerians preparing to serve their nation can no longer travel safely on Nigerian roads.
“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. These young Nigerians were preparing to serve their nation, but they were unable to travel safely on our roads,” Obi stated.
The former Anambra State Governor lamented that families are increasingly burdened by the fear that their loved ones could fall victim to kidnapping, a situation he said has become too common.
According to him, protecting lives and property remains the foremost responsibility of government and insecurity must not be normalized.
“Protecting lives and property is the government’s foremost responsibility. We cannot continue to regard insecurity as an ordinary occurrence or act only after people’s lives have been disrupted,” he said.
Obi called for the immediate and safe rescue of all the abducted corps members and the arrest of those responsible for the criminal act.
He stressed that Nigeria must become a safe country for its youth.
“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,” he added.
The abduction of the prospective corps members along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State has triggered nationwide outrage, with security agencies, including the Imo State Police Command led by the Commissioner of Police and DIG Operations Shehu Umar Nadada, launching a heavily armed search operation with drone surveillance deep into the forest to locate the victims.
