RismadarVoice Reporters
October 6, 2026
A 55-year-old mother, Janet Oladosu, has appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue her son, Greatness, and 19 other prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted while travelling to their orientation camps.
The graduates left the Samonda area of Ibadan on September 30 for NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states before they were abducted around Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State on October 1.
Oladosu appealed to the Federal Government, as well as the Oyo and Imo State governments and security agencies, to make the safe return of the victims a priority.
She said her greatest concern was to see her son and the other abducted graduates return home alive.
According to her, Greatness had remained in contact with her during the journey from Ibadan. The travellers reportedly encountered prolonged traffic in Edo State and stopped overnight in Anambra State because it was too late to continue.
Oladosu said her son contacted her the following morning to say they had resumed their journey.
About 45 minutes later, however, she received another message informing her that the group had been abducted.
She said Greatness had managed to conceal a phone and use it to contact her after the abduction, deepening the family’s fears over his safety.
Security agencies have since intensified search-and-rescue operations for the victims, with additional personnel and operational resources deployed in Imo State.
The incident has also renewed calls for reforms to the NYSC deployment system.
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, urged the Federal Government to consider allowing graduates to undertake national service in their states of origin or residence, or within their geopolitical zones, to reduce risks associated with long-distance travel.
The group called on the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the release of the abducted graduates.
Afenifere also urged authorities to accelerate proposed reforms to the NYSC deployment system, including greater consideration of security risks when posting prospective corps members.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government has said it is working with the Imo State Government and security agencies towards securing the safe release of the victims.
Police authorities have also deployed senior officers and additional tactical resources to coordinate the operation.
For Oladosu and the other affected families, however, the immediate priority remains the safe return of their children as rescue efforts continue.
