VAM News Update

An Akwa Ibom group in the United States, the Ibom Peoples Congress (IPC), has called on President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, as well as all the security agencies in Nigeria to rise to the occasion by ensuring the release of the prospective corp members from the state who were abducted on their way to Zamfara for national service on August 19, 2023.

Addressing a press conference in Uyo on Wednesday, IPC President Prof John Okon, lamented that the youths who were on their way to serve their fatherland had been abandoned in the kidnapper’s den for over 90 days.

Prof Okon said IPC has sent letters to President Tinubu, Senate President Akpabio, House of Representatives’s Speaker, Abbas, and the National Security Adviser to urge them to do everything within their powers to ensure the freedom of the young graduates and the driver of the Akwa Ibom Transport Bus.

The IPC President, who was flanked by the Global Director of Communications of the organisation, Matthew Okono, and Greg Amba Obong, appealed to the leaders to forgo political affiliations and sentiments and consider the traumatic effect of captivity on the young victims and their families.

He listed the abducted prospective corps members to include Daniel Etim Bassey Ndon Ebom from Uruan LGA, a graduate of the University of Nigeria; Uyo-Obong Victor Udofia from Nkwot Nko, Ikono LGA, a graduate of the University of Uyo; Sabbath Anyaewe Ikan Okorombokoh from Eastern Obolo LGA, a graduate of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic; Abigail Peter Sandy from Abak LGA, a graduate of Maurid Polytechnic; Glory Etukudo Thomas Idung Uso from Eket LGA, a graduate of Heritage Polytechnic, Eket; Emmanuel Emmanuel Esudue Oruko from Urue Offong/Oruko LGA; Victoria Bassey Udoka from Ikpe Ikot Nkon, Ini LGA, a graduate of the University of Uyo; Solomon Bassey Daniel from Itu LGA, a graduate of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic; and the driver of the transport company, Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC).

IPC urged the President to “direct, as appropriate, the Nigerian Armed Forces, Police, Intelligence, and other security agencies to facilitate the immediate release and return of the abducted corps members.”

Against the prevailing insecurity in the country, the groups also recommend the review of the NYSC Scheme to make it more responsive and adaptive to the current security and economic realities of the country.

“A high-powered NYSC Scheme review committee should be set up with a mandate to make recommendations for possible amendments of the extant act within one month (30 days). Such amendments should stipulate that corp members serve within their regions and travel distance to states of postings must not exceed 4-5 hours to avoid night travel before reaching their destinations. This, however, could be and/or is subject to review in future as the security situation stabilises,” the statement added.