The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has expressed concern over what it described as President Bola Tinubu’s silence following the abduction of prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State.The party called on the President to demonstrate greater urgency in addressing the incident and ensure that security agencies intensify efforts to rescue those still being held by their abductors.The APM, through the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation (MDPCO), said the failure of the President to publicly address the latest incident was troubling, particularly given the concerns of affected families.
The abduction occurred on October 1, when gunmen reportedly attacked two buses conveying prospective corps members and other passengers from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.The vehicles were intercepted around Umunoha along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State.Following the attack, the Imo State Police Command announced that 10 victims had been rescued, while search-and-rescue operations continued to locate the remaining abductees.The campaign organisation described the incident as another indication of the security challenges facing the country and accused the Tinubu administration of failing to take sufficiently proactive measures against kidnapping and other violent crimes.It argued that Nigerians, particularly young graduates travelling to fulfil their national service obligations, should be able to move across the country without fear of abduction.
The group also called for a more coordinated and intelligence-driven security strategy, emphasising the need for stronger collaboration among security agencies, preventive operations and faster responses to threats.The APM further contrasted the Federal Government’s approach with the security model it said was being implemented by its presidential candidate, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.It maintained that improved intelligence gathering, coordination and rapid response should form the foundation of efforts to tackle insecurity.Meanwhile, the abduction has triggered anxiety among the victims’ families, with reports that the kidnappers demanded ₦50 million for each victim.The party urged the Federal Government to treat the safe recovery of the abducted prospective corps members as an urgent national priority and provide the necessary support for ongoing rescue operations.The allegations against the President represent the APM’s political position on the government’s handling of insecurity. Security agencies have continued their operations following the attack.
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