Ajadi Demands Tinubu’s Resignation Over Abduction of NYSC Members

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) senatorial candidate for Oyo Central, Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign and abandon any plan to seek re-election in 2027 over the worsening security situation in the country.

Ajadi made the demand while reacting to the abduction of prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom.

The incident occurred on Thursday, October 1, when armed men reportedly attacked two buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Road around Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. Police confirmed that NYSC members were among the passengers taken during the attack.

According to reports, the buses were operated by Uko Akwa Ibom Motors and had departed Ibadan before the passengers were intercepted in Imo State.

The incident has triggered concern among the victims’ families after reports emerged that the kidnappers were demanding N50 million for each of the 19 prospective corps members, putting the reported ransom at N950 million.

The figure was attributed to the management of the transport company and reports from families of the victims.

However, reports on the number of people initially abducted have not been completely consistent. The Imo State Police Command and subsequent reports referred to 20 abducted passengers, while other reports focused on 19 prospective corps members. The distinction is important because the buses reportedly carried corps members as well as other passengers.

Security agencies have since intensified efforts to locate and rescue the victims.

The police said two buses involved in the incident were recovered and that 10 victims were rescued during the operation. Authorities subsequently deployed additional tactical personnel as the search continued for those still unaccounted for.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, also deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, alongside two Commissioners of Police, to strengthen the rescue operation in Imo State.

Police authorities said the operation would continue until the remaining abducted persons are safely recovered.

Ajadi Calls for Accountability

Reacting to the incident, Ajadi described the abduction of young Nigerians travelling to begin their national service as unacceptable.

He argued that prospective corps members should be able to travel across the country without fear of being kidnapped and urged the Federal Government to make their safe recovery a priority.

Ajadi subsequently linked the incident to his broader criticism of the Tinubu administration’s handling of insecurity.

He said the President should resign if the government could not protect Nigerians and specifically urged Tinubu not to seek another term in the 2027 presidential election.

“Tinubu should resign because he has not been able to meet the responsibility of solving the insecurity in the nation. He should not bother to contest in the 2027 general election. He should rather resign now,” Ajadi said.

The APM candidate also urged security agencies to sustain the search for the remaining victims and appealed to Nigerians with useful information to assist the authorities.

The abduction has renewed concerns over the safety of Nigerians travelling on major interstate highways, particularly young graduates required to move across state lines for the NYSC programme.

While Ajadi’s demand represents his political position on the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity, security agencies are continuing their efforts to locate the remaining victims and apprehend those responsible for the attack.