African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has called for the immediate suspension and eventual scrapping of the National Youth Service Corps scheme following the abduction of prospective corps members in Imo State.
The prospective corps members were among passengers abducted after gunmen attacked two buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in the Umunoha area. Security agencies have continued search-and-rescue efforts, with some victims reportedly rescued.
Sowore said the incident highlighted concerns over the safety of graduates travelling across states for national service. He proposed allowing corps members to serve within their states of origin while calling for the NYSC to eventually be replaced with a voluntary National Job Corps.
The Inspector-General of Police has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations and two Commissioners of Police to Imo State to coordinate the ongoing rescue operation.
