By 20 prospective corps members recently released after being abducted in Imo State have reportedly been offered the opportunity to choose any of the six South-West states where they wish to continue their national service.
A parent of one of the affected graduates disclosed that the group had been allowed to select their preferred states within the region for the current NYSC batch.
The reported arrangement covers Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states, giving the graduates a choice of where to continue their service following the incident.
The parent, who spoke to reporters on Friday, said the graduates had been given the opportunity to choose where they would serve.
However, the National Youth Service Corps had not officially confirmed the arrangement as of the time of the report..
The offer is specifically for the affected graduates following their release from captivity. Further details on when they will resume service and how their selected states will be processed were not provided in the report.
Abduction Interrupted Journey to Orientation Camp
The graduates were among 20 prospective corps members abducted on October 1, 2026, along the Owerri-Onitsha Road near Umunoha in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
They were travelling in two commercial buses towards their orientation camp in Abia State when suspected gunmen seized them.
The police announced their release on October 7, attributing their recovery to coordinated search-and-rescue operations involving security agencies.
However, relatives subsequently informed reporters that families paid ₦6 million for each captive to secure their release. The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, said he was unaware of any ransom payment, leaving conflicting accounts of the circumstances surrounding their freedom.
The graduates’ release brought an end to their 7-day captivity, but the incident has added to concerns about the safety of prospective corps members travelling to orientation camps across the country.
Safety Concerns Persist Over NYSC Deployment
The incident has renewed attention on the security risks prospective corps members face while travelling across states to begin national service.
In August 2026, 15 prospective corps members travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja were abducted along the Aloma-Egane Expressway in Kogi State. Security operatives later rescued them from Egume Forest.
In June 2026, the Federal Executive Council approved a package of reforms for the NYSC, including risk-sensitive deployment and a technology-driven call-up process. Other measures included extending the orientation programme from three to six weeks and introducing specialised career streams.
The available information does not establish whether the reported choice of South-West postings for the 20 graduates forms part of the approved reforms. The NYSC has also not publicly explained the terms of the arrangement.
For the affected graduates, the immediate development is the reported opportunity to choose where they will continue their service. Confirmation from the NYSC would clarify the status of the offer and the process through which their preferred postings will be arranged.
(Punch)
