By Odesola JF., PhD
Imagine sending your son or daughter away from home with prayers, excitement and high hopes for the future, only to receive a phone call that turns your world upside down. Your child, who left home to begin the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, has been kidnapped on the way to an orientation camp.
What would you do? Where would you turn? How would you find the money, if ransom were demanded, and how would you cope with the fear of not knowing whether your child would return home safely?
These are not imaginary questions. They are the painful realities that Nigerian parents may face today.
The kidnapping of 20 prospective members of the NYSC travelling to their orientation camps on October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day, should make every Nigerian stop and think. It should compel the Federal Government, the NYSC management and the entire country to confront a difficult question: Is compulsory national service still worth the risk when the government cannot guarantee reasonable security for the young graduates it sends across the country?
My position is clear. I do not support the abolition of the NYSC. I believe in its original vision and appreciate its contribution to national unity. However, I strongly believe that the scheme should not continue in its present form without fundamental security reforms. Where the government cannot provide reasonable protection, compulsory deployment to dangerous areas and along high-risk routes should be suspended.
This is not an argument against national service. It is an argument for protecting the lives of those called upon to serve.
According to media reports, the 20 prospective corps members were released six days after their abduction, reportedly at Amakohia Ubi Village in Imo State, following the involvement of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies. Their release was welcome news. One can only imagine the relief their families must have felt after days of fear, uncertainty and sleepless nights.
Yet, questions have been raised about allegations that ransom was paid to secure their freedom, despite reports attributing their release to intelligence-led security operations.
These allegations deserve a transparent investigation. If the victims were rescued through intelligence and coordinated security efforts, the officers involved deserve commendation. If ransom was also paid, the public deserves an honest account of the circumstances. It would be wrong to accuse the police of deliberate dishonesty without establishing the facts, but it would equally be wrong to dismiss the concerns of parents whose accounts may differ from the official narrative.
The important thing is that the truth should be established.
Beyond the argument over how the victims regained their freedom, however, lies a more fundamental question: Why were these young Nigerians exposed to such danger while travelling to fulfil a national obligation?
That is the question we must not allow to disappear from public discussion.
A Good Idea That Must Adapt to Changing Times
The NYSC was established in 1973, following the Nigerian Civil War, when the country desperately needed healing, reconciliation and a renewed sense of national identity.
The idea behind the scheme was simple but powerful: bring young Nigerians from different parts of the country together, encourage them to live and work outside their familiar environments, and give them an opportunity to understand one another beyond ethnic, religious and regional differences.
It was a noble vision.
For generations, the NYSC has helped young Nigerians discover that the people they had heard about from a distance were not strangers after all. Graduates posted to unfamiliar communities have found friendship, hospitality, love and opportunities they might never have encountered at home.
Some have taught children in rural schools. Others have supported healthcare facilities, contributed to agricultural development, participated in community projects and helped organisations with skills that were otherwise unavailable. Many have returned from their service year with a broader outlook on life and a better understanding of Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity.
These are benefits we should not overlook.
The NYSC has also provided an opportunity for young Nigerians to challenge prejudices and build relationships across ethnic and religious boundaries. In a country where differences can sometimes become sources of suspicion and division, this experience is valuable.
A young graduate who spends a year in another community may discover that the people there share the same hopes for their children, the same concerns about their future and the same desire to live in peace and dignity.
Such encounters can help build a stronger nation, one friendship at a time.
This is why I believe the NYSC should be preserved. We should not throw away a good idea simply because the circumstances surrounding it have become more difficult.
However, we must also be honest with ourselves. The Nigeria of 1973 is not the Nigeria of 2026. The security challenges facing the country today are significantly different from those that existed when the scheme was established.
Kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and attacks on travellers have made certain journeys dangerous. Some roads that people once travelled with little concern now generate fear and anxiety. Families think carefully before allowing their children to undertake long journeys, particularly through areas where kidnappings have been reported.
A programme created to bring Nigerians together must not become a source of fear for the very people it is supposed to benefit.
We must preserve the vision of the NYSC, but we must be willing to change the way it operates.
When Parents Begin to Fear the NYSC Journey
For many parents, the announcement that their child has graduated from university is a moment of great joy. It represents years of sacrifice, school fees, encouragement, prayers and expectations.
The NYSC is often the next important milestone. Families begin preparing for camp, buying necessary items, arranging transport and offering advice to their children as they prepare to enter a new phase of life.
There is usually excitement about meeting new people, discovering another part of Nigeria and beginning the journey towards a career.
But imagine what happens when that excitement suddenly turns into panic.
A parent calls to ask whether the journey is progressing well, but there is no response. Hours pass. Then comes the frightening news that the vehicle carrying the young graduate has been intercepted by kidnappers.
At that moment, nothing else matters. The parent’s world revolves around one question: Will my child come home alive?
Food becomes difficult to eat. Sleep becomes impossible. Every telephone call brings fresh anxiety. Families begin searching for information, contacting friends and relatives, and trying to understand what has happened.
If the kidnappers demand ransom, the situation becomes even more painful. Some families may have to borrow money, sell valuable possessions or appeal to others for help. Others may have no realistic way of raising the amount demanded.
No parent should have to endure such an ordeal because a child is travelling to fulfil a compulsory national assignment.
The victims, too, are not statistics. They are young men and women with dreams, plans and families who love them. Some have spent years struggling through university, hoping to build a better future for themselves and their families. Their parents may have invested their life savings in their education.
They should not have to begin their adult lives by experiencing the trauma of kidnapping.
This is why the issue goes beyond the NYSC as an institution. It touches on the value we place on human life and the responsibility of government to protect citizens.
No one is suggesting that government can prevent every crime. But when a particular route is known to be dangerous, when kidnapping incidents have repeatedly occurred in an area, and when the government is aware of the risks, it has a responsibility to act.
A posting letter should never become a death sentence, and national service should never be a journey into avoidable danger.
The Ransom Controversy: Nigerians Deserve the Truth
The controversy surrounding the release of the 20 prospective corps members raises another issue that should concern us all: public confidence in our security agencies.
When people are kidnapped, their families naturally turn to the police and other security agencies for help. They expect the authorities to do everything reasonably possible to secure their loved ones’ release and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Security personnel who risk their lives to rescue victims deserve our appreciation. Their work is difficult, often dangerous, and sometimes carried out under severe operational constraints.
However, public trust also depends on honesty.
If the police announce that victims were rescued through intelligence, but families subsequently allege that ransom was paid, the appropriate response is to establish the facts. The allegations should neither be accepted uncritically nor dismissed simply because they create an uncomfortable situation for the authorities.
It is possible that intelligence-led operations and negotiations occurred during the same incident. It is also possible that different parties have incomplete information. That is precisely why a clear and credible account is necessary.
The public should not be left to guess what happened.
If ransom was paid, the authorities should explain what can safely be disclosed about the circumstances. If the victims were recovered through a security operation without ransom, that too should be supported by credible information.
The aim should not be to embarrass the police or diminish the work of security personnel. The aim should be to strengthen public confidence and ensure that lessons are learned.
There is a difference between protecting sensitive operational information and allowing uncertainty to undermine public trust.
More importantly, we must recognise the predicament of parents who pay ransom. A mother or father who raises money to save an abducted child is acting under extraordinary emotional pressure. It is unfair to condemn such parents without understanding the desperation they face.
Their immediate concern is not the wider economics of kidnapping. It is the life of their child.
The responsibility for tackling the criminal networks that profit from kidnapping rests with the state. Authorities must investigate these networks, trace illicit payments where evidence permits, prosecute offenders and reduce the financial incentives that make kidnapping attractive to criminals.
The true measure of success is not simply how many victims are released, but how effectively we prevent abductions, dismantle criminal networks and protect the next potential victim.
Nigeria Has Seen This Tragedy Too Many Times
Unfortunately, the abduction of prospective corps members is part of a wider pattern of insecurity that has affected schools, communities, public transportation and ordinary travellers.
In April 2014, the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State, shocked Nigeria and the international community. The girls were taken from their school by Boko Haram. The incident gave rise to the global #BringBackOurGirls campaign and exposed the devastating consequences of failing to protect vulnerable students.
Many of the girls eventually regained their freedom, but some remained missing for years. For their parents, the pain was not an abstract national issue. It was the agony of mothers and fathers who did not know when, or whether, they would see their daughters again.
In December 2020, more than 300 schoolboys were abducted from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State. Their release brought relief, but the incident reinforced concerns about the safety of schools and the circumstances under which abducted children are recovered.
In March 2022, gunmen attacked the Abuja–Kaduna passenger train, killing passengers and abducting others. Some victims endured months in captivity before they were released. The attack demonstrated that even organised public transportation could become a target for armed groups.
In November 2025, the abduction of pupils and staff from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, once again brought the vulnerability of educational communities into national focus.
Each incident has its own circumstances, and we must be careful not to treat them as identical. Nevertheless, they point to a common concern: Nigerians continue to face the threat of abduction in places where they should be able to study, travel and live without fear.
When parents become afraid to send their children to school, when travellers hesitate to use certain roads, and when young graduates fear the journey to orientation camp, the damage goes beyond the immediate victims.
The country’s economy suffers. Communities lose confidence. Businesses face greater costs and uncertainty. Young people begin to question whether their country can offer them a safe environment in which to build their future.
A country cannot make meaningful progress when its citizens spend so much time worrying about whether they will arrive safely at their destinations.
We must not become so accustomed to kidnapping that we treat each new incident as just another headline.
Behind every headline are human beings, grieving families, interrupted dreams and questions that deserve answers.
The Government Cannot Shift the Burden to Young Graduates
Government has a responsibility to protect citizens. This does not mean that every crime can be prevented, but it does mean that authorities must take reasonable and effective measures to reduce foreseeable risks.
When the government requires graduates to travel to particular locations, it must consider the security implications of those journeys.
It cannot simply issue posting letters and leave young people to make their way through dangerous areas without adequate information, protection or emergency support.
The Federal Government, state governments, the NYSC management and security agencies must work together to develop a more effective system for assessing threats and protecting corps members.
This should include better intelligence gathering, surveillance of vulnerable routes, effective emergency communication, rapid-response arrangements and coordinated security operations.
The condition of our roads must also be considered. Poorly maintained highways can turn an ordinary journey into a prolonged and hazardous experience. Broken-down vehicles, traffic bottlenecks and long delays may expose travellers to additional risks.
Road rehabilitation is therefore not merely an infrastructure issue. In areas affected by kidnapping, it is also part of the wider security response.
Government should invest in safer roads, emergency communication systems and properly coordinated security coverage. It should also ensure that travellers can obtain reliable information about route conditions and credible security threats.
Equally important is the need for honesty in public communication. Security agencies should provide accurate information, distinguish confirmed facts from allegations and investigate discrepancies when they arise.
Nigerians should not have to choose between believing every official statement and believing every allegation circulating on social media. Public institutions should provide sufficient verified information to help citizens understand what has happened.
The government owes the public accountability, just as the public owes government a fair assessment of its efforts.
How Do We Reform the NYSC Without Destroying Its Purpose?
The debate should not be reduced to two extreme positions: abolish the NYSC or retain everything exactly as it is.
There is a more sensible way forward. We can preserve the scheme’s objectives while changing its operational arrangements to reflect present realities.
First, deployment should be based on credible security assessments. Where serious threats exist, the government should suspend postings until the risks have been reduced to an acceptable level. Such decisions should be based on evidence and reviewed regularly.
Second, the NYSC should organise safer transportation for corps members travelling long distances to orientation camps. Young graduates should not be left entirely on their own to navigate routes where serious security concerns have been identified. Coordinated transportation, appropriate security support and reliable journey monitoring could help reduce avoidable risks.
Third, local and regional deployment options should be expanded. Where travelling to a distant state is unsafe, graduates should be allowed to serve in safer locations without being unfairly penalised. This would require careful planning to ensure that national integration remains a meaningful objective.
Fourth, the scheme should make greater use of digital and community-based service. Graduates with relevant skills could contribute to education, information technology, research, administration and other development projects through supervised remote assignments where appropriate. Not every service responsibility requires physical relocation across the country.
Fifth, the government must strengthen insurance, emergency evacuation and support for victims. If a corps member is kidnapped, injured or traumatised during service, there should be a clear process for providing assistance. Families should know whom to contact and what support they can expect.
Sixth, the NYSC should improve communication with corps members and their families before mobilisation. Security advisories, emergency telephone numbers, verified route information and prompt alerts could help young people make safer decisions.
Finally, the scheme should be independently reviewed to establish whether its present structure remains the best way to achieve national integration and development. Such a review should consider security, cost, economic value, employment outcomes and the experiences of former corps members.
These changes are not signs of weakness. They are signs of responsible leadership.
A programme can be worth preserving while still needing substantial reform. Indeed, the more valuable an institution is, the more important it becomes to protect it from practices that could undermine its purpose.
National Unity Should Not Come at the Expense of Human Life
There is something deeply troubling about a situation in which young people are expected to demonstrate patriotism by travelling across the country while their parents fear for their safety.
National service should be an opportunity for growth, not an ordeal that families dread.
We must remember that the young graduates involved are not merely participants in a government programme. They are sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, future parents, professionals and potential leaders. Their lives have value beyond the certificates they receive at the end of their service year.
Their safety should not be treated as an afterthought.
At the same time, we must not lose sight of the positive contribution the NYSC has made to Nigeria. It has brought people together, supported communities and given generations of graduates opportunities to understand the country better.
The answer is therefore not to abandon the vision of national integration. It is to make that vision work under today’s conditions.
We need a national service programme that encourages young people to build bridges across our differences while ensuring that their journeys are planned responsibly. We need an institution that serves communities without exposing its participants to unreasonable risks. Above all, we need a government that understands that protecting citizens is inseparable from promoting national development.
The Time to Act Is Now
The kidnapping of the 20 prospective corps members on Independence Day should not be forgotten simply because they were eventually released. Their return is a reason for gratitude, but it should also be a reason for reflection and decisive action.
We should be grateful for every life spared, appreciate genuine efforts by security personnel and support the families and victims as they recover from their ordeal. But we must also ask the difficult questions that will help prevent another tragedy.
How did the kidnappers gain access to the victims? Were the security risks along their route adequately assessed? What role did intelligence and security operations play in their release? Were ransom payments made, as alleged? What measures are being taken to ensure that other prospective corps members do not suffer the same fate?
These are reasonable questions in a democracy. Asking them does not amount to an attack on the NYSC or the police. It is part of our collective responsibility to demand safer institutions and more accountable public service.
The Federal Government and the NYSC management must now demonstrate that the lives of young graduates matter more than administrative convenience. Where a route is dangerously insecure, alternative arrangements should be made. Where a location cannot be made reasonably safe, deployment should be suspended. Where families need assistance, clear support systems should be available.
We must not wait for another group of young Nigerians to be kidnapped before taking these steps.
My position remains that the NYSC should continue, but only after serious and enforceable security reforms. Its contribution to national unity is too valuable to discard, but no institution should be preserved at the expense of the people it was established to serve.
Nigeria needs national integration. It needs young people who believe in their country and are willing to contribute to its development. But it also needs a government that gives those young people good reason to believe that their lives are protected and their future matters.
The question is not whether national service has value. The question is whether we are prepared to make it safe enough for our children to undertake it with confidence.
Let us preserve the vision, reform the system and restore the confidence of parents and young graduates.
Let the NYSC remain a bridge that brings Nigerians together, not a journey that fills families with fear.
Because at the end of the day, no national programme, however noble its purpose, should be more important than the lives of the people it was created to serve.
