Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Federal Government, the Imo State Government and security agencies to urgently secure the release of travellers, including prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, still held by kidnappers in Imo State. Atiku made the call in a post on his X……
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Federal Government, the Imo State Government and security agencies to urgently secure the release of travellers, including prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, still held by kidnappers in Imo State.
Atiku made the call in a post on his X account on Monday, describing the abduction of 20 travellers as “heartbreaking” and urging authorities to bring those still in captivity home safely. The victims were travelling from Ibadan to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen attacked two buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State.
He wrote, “The abduction of 20 travellers, including prospective corps members, in Imo State is heartbreaking. Some have been rescued, but others remain in captivity.
“I urge the Federal and Imo State governments, and all security agencies, to act with urgency and bring everyone still being held home safely.”
The former vice president also drew attention to the continued captivity of more than 70 pupils and students abducted from Mussa and Lassa communities in Borno State.
“In Borno, more than 70 pupils and students abducted from Mussa and Lassa remain in captivity months later. These children must not be forgotten. Their families deserve clear updates, and the public deserves answers,” he said.
Atiku linked the incidents to broader concerns over insecurity in the country, arguing that Nigerians remained vulnerable to attacks on roads, in communities and around schools.
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He said, “Tinubu promised that savings from subsidy removal would help fund security. Yet Nigerians remain exposed to kidnappers on our roads, in our communities and around our schools.”
The former vice president added that young Nigerians were facing danger at different stages, from secondary school and university to their journeys to NYSC orientation camps.
“Young people face danger in secondary school, struggle with unaffordable fees at university, and are now targets on their journeys to NYSC camps. This is a generation being failed at every stage,” he said.
Atiku also questioned the award of pipeline security contracts to companies he described as politically connected, contrasting such spending with the security challenges confronting ordinary Nigerians.
“Meanwhile, huge pipeline security contracts go to politically connected companies, while ordinary Nigerians are left to face criminals. The first duty of government is to protect lives,” he said.
He called for the immediate and safe rescue of all abducted young Nigerians and the return of those still unaccounted for, while restating his commitment to building what he described as a safer and more affordable Nigeria.
“While we pray for the immediate and safe rescue of every abducted young person and the return of all those still unaccounted for, my promise to build a safer and more affordable Nigeria, where young people can create, build and prosper, remains unshakable,” Atiku added.
