The House of Representatives has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and other security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the immediate and safe release of the seven abducted members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) still in captivity in Zamfara state.
The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved at the plenary on Tuesday by Hon. Unyime Idenm and nine others.
Moving the motion, Idenm said NYSC is a vital national programme aimed at fostering unity and promoting national development by deploying graduates to various States for a mandatory one year of service.
He recalled that on 17 August 2023, eight corps members from Akwa Ibom State were abducted by gunmen in Zamfara State, on their way to the place of primary assignment (PPA) with a current demand of N200 million.
The lawmaker noted that in May 2023, seven corps members were kidnapped in Rivers State on their way from the orientation camp in Ondo State and released after paying ransom.
Idenm expressed worry at the incident accounts for the many other corps members who have had to go through the traumatic experience of abduction in the course of their service to the nation.
He added continuous re-occurrence targeted at innocent corps members has raised significant security concerns, threatened the lives of young citizens, eroded public trust and confidence in the government’s ability to protect its citizens, and posed the potential to mar the core objective of the NYSC.
The lawmaker said there was urgent need for drastic measures to secure the immediate release of the remaining seven abducted corps members following the release of one of them, as confirmed by the Director General of NYSC on 20 September 2023 and restore confidence in the nation’s national security system.
The House urged: ”The Inspector General of Police (IGP) and other security agencies to intensify efforts and deploy personnel and intelligence capabilities to secure the immediate and safe release of the seven abducted corps members still in captivity.
“Mandate the Committee on National Security and Intelligence to ensure compliance and report back within one week for further legislative action.”