Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on the Federal Government, the Imo State Government and security agencies to urgently secure the release of abducted prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.
Atiku made the call in a statement posted on his X account on Monday while reacting to the abduction of 20 prospective corps members in Imo State.
He described the incident as heartbreaking, noting that although some of the victims had been rescued, others were still being held by their abductors.
“I urge the Federal and Imo State governments, and all security agencies, to act with urgency and bring everyone still being held home safely,” he said.
The ADC candidate also drew attention to the continued captivity of more than 70 pupils and students abducted from Mussa and Lassa in Borno State, months after their abduction.
According to him, the affected children must not be forgotten, while their families deserve clear updates on efforts to secure their release.
The call followed the reported attack on two buses conveying at least 20 graduates travelling from Ibadan to their NYSC orientation camps.
The travellers were reportedly attacked by gunmen on Thursday along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.
Atiku linked the latest abduction to broader concerns over insecurity, arguing that Nigerians remained vulnerable to kidnappers on highways, in communities and around schools.
He also questioned the government’s handling of resources allocated to security, recalling that President Bola Tinubu had promised that savings from the removal of fuel subsidy would help fund security.
“Yet Nigerians remain exposed to kidnappers on our roads, in our communities and around our schools,” Atiku said.
He argued that young Nigerians were facing insecurity at different stages of their lives, from secondary school to university and now while travelling to NYSC orientation camps.
“This is a generation being failed at every stage,” he said.
The former vice president further questioned the allocation of huge pipeline security contracts to politically connected companies while ordinary Nigerians continued to face criminal attacks.
His comments came after he had demanded a detailed account of the N11.2 trillion recorded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) as receivables from the Federation, particularly funds linked to advances and the protection of oil and gas assets.
On Sunday, Atiku had asked Nigerians to be told how much of the money was spent on pipeline surveillance, who received the payments and what results were achieved.
He said NNPCL’s 2024 accounts contained about N17.5 trillion in various claims on the Federation, including petrol under-recovery and other receivables associated with advances and asset protection.
He added that the corporation’s 2025 accounts subsequently showed approximately N11.2 trillion in other receivables from the Federation, raising questions about the specific components of the figure.
“Nigerians cannot tell from these totals what was spent on pipeline surveillance. What was paid? Who was paid? For what work? Where are the results?” he asked.
Atiku also compared the N11.2 trillion in NNPCL receivables with the approximately N3.1 trillion allocated to the Ministry of Defence in 2025.
While acknowledging that the figures belonged to different accounting categories, he said their disparity raised questions about government spending priorities.
He also questioned government contracts involving companies whose associates or founders were allegedly supporting Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
Atiku cited Tantita, which he said holds a pipeline security contract, and its founder’s reported support for another term for the president.
He similarly raised questions about the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway contract involving a company associated with the Chagourys, alleging that it was awarded without an open public tender.
He challenged the administration to publish documents relating to the procurement process, including invitations, competing bids, evaluations and the contract.
Atiku said accountability was particularly important at a time Nigerians were facing economic hardship, insecurity, food costs and electricity challenges.
