Omotosho Adewale, the father of a victim, says he has not eaten for three days.
Police have identified the camp where 19 National Youth Service Corps recruits were seized in Imo state, but plans to enter are stalled by worries that the area is mined with improvised explosives.
Commissioner Audu Bosso reported that drones revealed the location of the illegal holding. The exact address is undisclosed, and the identity of the perpetrators remains unknown.
The abductees had been travelling from Ibadan to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom when gunmen attacked their bus near Umunoha. Drones and satellite imagery were used to locate their hiding spot.
Family members, most notably Adewale, lament the impact. He said a ransom of 50 million naira was demanded, but he could not afford it. “I have no peace of mind. I have not eaten for three days,” he told reporters while in tears.
The National Youth Service Corps runs one year of volunteer work for Nigeria’s graduates. The programme intends to unite youth across the country and instill national consciousness, but it has faced growing security concerns worldwide.
Bosso added that pilots of the drone “actually showed us exactly their location.” The police, however, are wary because the job site might contain IEDs that could detonate and endanger rescuers.
Bulldozers and armored vehicles are on standby while authorities consider a coordinated assault. Police also warned that paying ransom is illegal and discouraged families, yet pressure mounts for a swift release.
Kidnap‑for‑ransom remains a pervasive problem across Nigeria, affecting both urban centres and rural areas. While northern states frequently report such incidents, this case in the southeast shines a light on the hidden dangers faced by young people moving for national service.
The incident has prompted calls for reforms within the NYSC to prevent future kidnappings and for clearer risk guidelines to protect recruits in high‑risk zones.
