‘A generation being failed again’ — Atiku tackles Tinubu over NYSC members’ abduction

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu over the recent abduction of 20 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State.

In a statement on Monday, Atiku said Nigerians remain vulnerable to kidnappers across the country despite the huge savings made by the administration from the removal of petrol subsidy.

He urged security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the abducted graduates, describing the incident as particularly disturbing given that 70 pupils and students abducted in the Mussa and Lassa areas of Borno State have remained in captivity since May and June.

“Tinubu promised that savings from subsidy removal would help fund security. Yet Nigerians remain exposed to kidnappers on our roads, in our communities and around our schools,” Atiku said.

He added that young Nigerians face threats at different stages, from secondary school to university and now while travelling to NYSC camps.

“Young people face danger in secondary school, struggle with unaffordable fees at university, and are now targets on their journeys to NYSC camps. This is a generation being failed at every stage.”

Atiku also criticised the allocation of what he described as huge pipeline security contracts to politically connected companies while ordinary Nigerians continue to face criminal threats.

“The first duty of government is to protect lives,” he said.

He expressed hope for the immediate and safe rescue of all the abducted young people and those still missing, while reiterating his commitment to building a safer and more affordable Nigeria where young people can create, build and prosper.

The former vice-president’s comments followed the October 1 abduction of NYSC members and other passengers along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State.

Gunmen reportedly waylaid two buses carrying the prospective corps members and other passengers in Umunoha.

The Imo State Police Command said it recovered the two buses and rescued 10 people at the scene, while 20 others remained in captivity.

Parents of the abducted victims later said the kidnappers demanded N50 million for each person, bringing the initial ransom demand to N1 billion.

Alhaja Akande and Oyebola Akande, who spoke on behalf of the affected families, said the abductors had been contacting them through the mobile phones of the abducted prospective corps members.

On Saturday, the parents said the kidnappers had given them 24 hours to raise the N1 billion ransom for the release of their children.

However, the ransom demand was later reportedly reduced to N5 million per victim, amounting to N100 million for all