INC condemns abduction of prospective NYSC members

OWERRI —– The leadership of Igbo National Council Worldwide, INC, has strongly condensed the reported abduction of prospective National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, members at Umunoha, Mbaitoli local council area of Imo State, on October I, 2026.

President of INC, Mr. Chilos Godsent, who made the group’s position known in a press statement, also disclosed that they stand in solidarity with the families of the victims.

He said: “The Igbo National Council (INC) Worldwide stands in solidarity with the affected families and calls for the safe, unconditional and immediate rescue of all the victims.

“INC urges the security agencies to: Sustain the search-and-rescue operation until all victims are safely recovered, strengthen intelligence gathering and surveillance around Umunoha and adjoining communities.

“Engage traditional rulers, community leaders and credible local security structures for actionable information, ensure the protection of commuters and residents along the Owerri–Onitsha corridor.

“Keep the Public and families of the affected victims adequately informed of developments and ensure that the perpetrators, when apprehended, are brought to justice in accordance with the law.”

While commending the Inspector General of Police for quickly deploying operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Department of State Security and other security agencies to immediately locate and rescue the victims, Godsent particularly welcomed the deployment of additional police leadership and tactical teams to strengthen the operation.

His words: “INC urgently calls on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, to incorporate credible, properly vetted and coordinated community vigilantes into the ongoing rescue operations, particularly those with detailed knowledge of the surrounding forests, community routes and difficult terrains.

“Community-based security personnel can provide valuable local intelligence and guide conventional security forces through areas that may be difficult to identify or access without local knowledge.

“Their involvement should, however, be properly coordinated under the command structure of the conventional security agencies to ensure operational discipline, safety and effectiveness.

“INC appeals to residents and members of the public who possess credible information capable of assisting the rescue operation to promptly share such information with the appropriate security authorities.”