Another batch of prospective corps members has been called to serve the nation. Once again, many of them and their families are worried about their safety as they travel to orientation camps across the country. This raises an important question: will the kidnapping of corps members become the norm, and what are the Nigerian government and security agencies doing to prevent it?
A BusinessDay analysis revealed that, over the years, there have been 13 reported cases of kidnapping involving 70 corps members across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The incidents occurred in different parts of the country and involved prospective corps members travelling to or from their places of orientation and other NYSC-related engagements.
Following the August orientation exercise, which ended on 26 August, 2026, corps members travelling from Bayelsa to Abuja were kidnapped in Kogi State along the Ofu/Itobe–Onicha-Igo axis. The release of 11 of them was confirmed on 31st August 2026. In another incident, according to Punch, corps members travelling from Ibadan to their orientation camp were kidnapped along Umunoha Road in Imo State on 1 October, 2026. The police announced their rescue after a joint operation by security agencies on 7 October in the Amakohia Ubi forest, Owerri West Local Government Area.
In both cases, security personnel responded to the incidents, and the corps members were eventually rescued. That is commendable, but what about the trauma they endured? Some victims are beaten and maltreated, while others are forced to walk for hours through forests in an attempt to evade their captors. Their families are also left in distress, sometimes facing demands for exorbitant ransoms and threats that they may never see their loved ones again. All these happen while young Nigerians are simply responding to a national call to serve. Although the prompt response of security agencies is important, rescue operations alone cannot be regarded as an adequate security measure. How many more incidents must occur before stronger preventive measures are put in place?
This situation has understandably become a source of concern for parents and guardians. Reactions have been mixed, with some people calling for a total boycott of the NYSC scheme. While that may appear to offer an immediate solution, it raises another question: what happens to the purpose of the scheme, and what alternative is available to young graduates?
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was established in 1973, after the civil war, to promote reconciliation and national rebuilding. More than five decades later, the scheme remains one of the country’s major platforms for bringing young Nigerians from different backgrounds together. It gives them the opportunity to experience other cultures, understand the country’s diversity and contribute to national development.
For many Nigerian graduates, the NYSC scheme is also an introduction to the world of work and an opportunity to explore career paths related to their fields of study while serving their fatherland. However, growing insecurity has made travelling to other states increasingly frightening for some prospective corps members.
Consequently, some prospective corps members reportedly pay to secure postings to places they consider safer or closer to home. Others travel to the states to which they have been posted, attend orientation camp and subsequently seek relocation to their preferred states. These processes may also involve payments to improve their chances of securing relocation. This situation defeats one of the central purposes of the NYSC scheme. Young Nigerians should not have to pay to avoid travelling to another state simply because they fear for their lives. Their reluctance is not necessarily a rejection of national integration; it may be a response to the insecurity they face.
Although security agencies have demonstrated that they can respond promptly to kidnapping incidents, the more important question is how such attacks can be prevented in the first place. One measure is to strengthen security in rural and remote areas. Where police stations are far apart or inaccessible, the establishment of additional security outposts could improve response time and make regular patrols easier. Recruiting officers who are familiar with the local terrain and communities could also strengthen these efforts. In areas around state boundaries or between neighbouring towns, cooperation among communities and security personnel on both sides would help officers understand local routes, including access roads and forest paths. Such outposts could serve as first points of response and work with other security agencies to prevent kidnappings.
Another important measure is to identify routes where kidnappings have occurred repeatedly and increase security presence along them. Previous incidents can be analysed to identify patterns, vulnerable locations and possible escape routes. This information can support intelligence-led patrols and investigations, helping security agencies anticipate threats rather than responding only after an attack has taken place.
Rescue operations must also be followed by thorough investigations and the prosecution of those responsible. Arresting and punishing abductors in accordance with the law can help discourage others who engage in kidnapping for financial gain. Without accountability, successful rescue operations may not be enough to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
Will kidnapping become the norm for prospective corps members? The NYSC scheme was established for an important national purpose, but that purpose is undermined when fear and insecurity make young Nigerians anxious about participating. The improved cooperation among security agencies in recent rescue operations is encouraging, but more needs to be done. Prevention must receive as much attention as rescue. The government and relevant security agencies must strengthen security along high-risk routes, improve rural policing, use intelligence to anticipate attacks and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. Corps members should be able to answer the call to serve without having to choose between national service and their personal safety.
