Igbo youths under the aegis of the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), has condemned in the strongest possible terms the horrific abduction of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other innocent passengers along the Owerri–Onitsha Road near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State by gunmen.

COSEYL in a statement by its President General, Goodluck Ibem considered the attack as an unacceptable assault on the lives, dignity and freedom of innocent Nigerians, particularly young graduates who were travelling to fulfil a national obligation under the NYSC scheme.

“It is deeply disturbing that citizens can travel on a major federal highway in broad daylight and be intercepted by armed criminals. This is not normal. This must not become normal.

COSEYL therefore demands the immediate and safe rescue of every remaining victim, without condition or further delay. “The security agencies must deploy every available intelligence, surveillance, tracking and operational capability until all those still in captivity are brought home safely”.

“We commend the security personnel involved in the rescue of 10 victims and urge them not to relent until every victim is accounted for and the perpetrators are arrested and brought to justice.

“We equally call on the Federal Government, the Imo State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, the military, the NYSC management and other relevant security agencies to treat the safety of corps members travelling to orientation camps as an urgent national security responsibility.

“The NYSC scheme was established to promote national integration. Young Nigerians answering the call to national service must never become soft targets for kidnappers and criminal gangs.

“We demand for the immediate rescue of every remaining abducted passenger and corps member and a full-scale investigation into the attack, including how armed criminals were able to operate on the Owerri–Onitsha corridor at such a strategic location despite countless security checkpoints.

“We demand for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators and their collaborators and enhanced security, surveillance and rapid-response capabilities along the Owerri–Onitsha Road and other identified kidnapping-prone highways in the South-East.”

Ibem also demanded a comprehensive security review of the movement of prospective corps members to orientation camps, particularly where travel routes pass through known security flashpoints and a regular and transparent communication with the families of the victims.

“Families should not be left to depend on rumours, social media or conflicting reports while their loved ones remain missing.

“There should be greater intelligence cooperation among communities, transport operators, the police, military and other security agencies to prevent the recurrence of such attacks.

COSEYL also urges communities along major highways to strengthen legitimate community-based intelligence and immediately report suspicious movements to security agencies. He noted that the fight against kidnapping cannot be left exclusively to security personnel; citizens, communities and government must work together to deny criminals the space to operate.

“Let it be clearly stated: the South-East cannot afford to surrender its highways to kidnappers, nor can Nigeria continue to treat the abduction of innocent citizens as routine news.

“Every abducted Nigerian is somebody’s child, parent, sibling or loved one.

Every corps member travelling to serve Nigeria deserves protection, every Nigerian has a right to move freely without living in fear of being kidnapped.

COSEYL said it will continue to demand accountability, security and justice for the victims of this barbaric attack. “We call on the authorities to act with urgency, not tomorrow, not next week, but now”. Ibem stated. (Saturday Sun)

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