African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has renewed his call for the suspension and eventual scrapping of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) following the abduction of prospective corps members and other passengers in Imo State.

Sowore made the call in a post on X on Saturday, October 3, 2026, reacting to the attack on two passenger buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Road near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.

The buses were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, conveying prospective corps members heading to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when they were intercepted by gunmen on Thursday, October 1.

The incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of young graduates who travel across state boundaries to participate in the compulsory one-year national service programme.

Reacting to the development, Sowore argued that the government should not require graduates to travel long distances for national service when their safety cannot be guaranteed. He described the NYSC in its present form as a scheme that had outlived its usefulness and said he had maintained that position since his first presidential bid in 2019.

He called for the immediate suspension of the programme and proposed that, pending its eventual scrapping, corps members should be given the option of serving in their states of origin.

Sowore also outlined an alternative under his proposed 2027 administration, suggesting the establishment of a two-year voluntary National Job Corps.

According to him, the proposed programme would concentrate on employment, skills acquisition, public works, technology, agriculture, healthcare, education and other areas considered important to national development.

He maintained that young Nigerians needed access to jobs, opportunities and practical skills, rather than compulsory deployment to locations where they might face security risks.

The National Job Corps proposal is not entirely new. Sowore had also announced plans in July 2026 to replace the NYSC with a two-year voluntary programme if elected president. The latest abduction has brought the proposal back into public discussion.

Meanwhile, security agencies have continued efforts to locate those still missing after the Imo attack. The Imo State Police Command initially announced that 10 victims had been rescued following the incident, while confirming that two buses had been recovered. The command said the exact number of people abducted was still being established at the time of its initial statement.

In a subsequent development, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate and strengthen the search-and-rescue operation. Two Commissioners of Police were also deployed to support the exercise.

According to the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, the DIG assessed the ongoing operation and reviewed the deployment of personnel and operational resources. Additional tactical teams were also sent to identified areas, with intelligence-led efforts and cooperation between security agencies being used to track the suspects.

The incident has also drawn attention to reports of ransom demands. Punch reported that abductors had demanded ₦50 million each for 19 prospective corps members, bringing the reported demand to ₦950 million. The figure relates specifically to the reported demand for the 19 corps members and should not be confused with the broader number of passengers involved in the abduction.

Sowore’s demand for the scrapping of the scheme comes at a time when the Federal Government is pursuing a different approach to the programme. In June 2026, the Federal Executive Council approved a comprehensive reform of the NYSC, including a technology-driven call-up process, risk-sensitive deployment, a redesigned orientation programme and skills-based primary assignments.

The Ministry of Youth Development said the reforms were intended to improve the scheme and strengthen its relevance to young Nigerians. The council also directed the relevant government institutions to begin work on amendments to the NYSC Act and its regulations to provide a legal framework for the changes.

The contrasting positions have placed the future of the national service scheme in the spotlight, particularly as concerns over the safety of corps members and prospective participants continue to feature in public discussions.

For now, the immediate priority remains the ongoing search-and-rescue operation in Imo State and the safe recovery of those still unaccounted for.