Janet Oladosu, a 55-year-old woman from Ibadan, has made a heartfelt appeal to the Federal Government and security agencies for the urgent rescue of her son, Greatness, and 19 other prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who were abducted on October 1, 2026, near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.

In a poignant plea, Oladosu recounted how her son managed to send her a distressing text message from captivity. According to her, Greatness had been communicating with her throughout their journey until they encountered a traffic holdup in Edo State, which delayed their arrival at the orientation camp. After resuming their journey, she received a shocking message from him stating, "Mummy, we have been kidnapped." In a subsequent message, he revealed, "Mummy, I don’t know what will happen to us. I hid this phone in my trousers to send a text to you." This revelation deepened her anguish, highlighting the precarious situation her son and the others are in.

The abduction has sparked widespread concern, prompting the pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere to call for immediate reforms to the NYSC Act. In a statement, the group urged the Federal Government to allow graduates to serve closer to their states of origin or residence, thereby reducing the risks associated with long-distance travel. Afenifere has been advocating for these changes since 2021, citing repeated incidents of kidnappings targeting corps members.

Afenifere's National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, emphasized the need for the government to expedite the legislative process for risk-based deployment, especially in areas with known security challenges. This follows President Bola Tinubu's earlier directive to the Federal Ministries of Youth Development and Justice to initiate necessary reforms.

In response to the abduction, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has dispatched senior police commanders to Imo State to oversee the situation. The Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Shehu Nadada, along with two Commissioners of Police, has arrived in Owerri to assess the security landscape and bolster efforts to locate the missing individuals. Police authorities have indicated that tactical teams are working diligently to track down the suspects and ensure the safe return of the victims.

As the search continues, Oladosu remains hopeful for her son's safe return, emphasizing the innocence of these young Nigerians who were simply on their way to serve their country. The situation remains critical, with families and communities anxiously awaiting updates on the rescue efforts.