Adebayo Demands Rescue of Abducted Corps Members, Security Overhaul

SDP presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo has urged security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the prospective corps members abducted in Imo State and called for a review of security arrangements for NYSC members.

Daniel Momodu · October 4, 2026 · 59

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party SDP, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has called for the immediate rescue of prospective National Youth Service Corps NYSC members abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State.

Adebayo also called for a comprehensive review of security arrangements for corps members travelling to orientation camps and places of primary assignment.

The prospective corps members, who were travelling from Ibadan to the NYSC orientation camp in Bende, Abia State, were reportedly ambushed by gunmen around the Umunoha axis of Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Imo State.

According to Adebayo’s campaign organisation, 10 of the victims were rescued by security operatives, while others remained in captivity.

In a statement issued by the Head of Media and Communications Directorate of his campaign, Mark Adebayo, the SDP candidate described the attack as an assault on young Nigerians who had committed themselves to national service and national integration.

He urged the Inspector-General of Police, military authorities and the Imo State Commissioner of Police to deploy all available resources to secure the release of the remaining victims.

Adebayo also appealed to the governors of Imo, Abia and Anambra states to prioritise the rescue operation and make available state security resources to support the efforts.

He said the safety and welfare of citizens should take precedence over political, administrative and ceremonial engagements, particularly when young Nigerians were being held by kidnappers.

The SDP candidate further called for stronger intelligence gathering, highway surveillance and rapid-response systems to prevent similar attacks on corps members and other travellers.

He said prospective corps members undertaking national service should not be exposed to avoidable security risks while travelling to their assigned camps and places of primary assignment.

Adebayo urged the security agencies to sustain their operations until all the abducted corps members were rescued alive and reunited with their families.