The Congress of University Academics has called on the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted in Imo State.
The graduates were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, towards NYSC orientation camps in the South-East and South-South when gunmen attacked the two buses around Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area.
The incident has triggered growing concern over the safety of the victims, who have remained in captivity for several days.
CONUA urged the authorities to deploy heavy surveillance along highways and accelerate the rescue operation, stressing the need for coordinated action to secure the abducted graduates.
The call came as security agencies reported progress in efforts to locate the kidnappers’ camp.
Imo State Commissioner of Police Audu Bosso said drone surveillance had helped operatives identify the location where the victims were believed to be held, but officers were unable to immediately enter the area because intelligence indicated that the camp had been mined with improvised explosive devices.
The development has complicated the rescue operation, with security agencies having to balance the urgency of freeing the victims against the risk of triggering explosives at the suspected camp.
The ransom demand has also reportedly changed.
According to reports from the victims’ families, the kidnappers initially demanded N50 million for each of the 20 victims, amounting to N1 billion, before reducing the demand to N5 million per victim, or N100 million in total.
Families of the abducted graduates have expressed alarm over reports that the captives were being physically assaulted.
The incident has renewed concerns over the security of major highways in the South-East and the vulnerability of young Nigerians travelling to orientation camps.
CONUA said the priority should be the safe recovery of all 20 victims and called for stronger surveillance and security presence along major highways.
As the operation continues, authorities face pressure to secure the victims without exposing them to additional danger.