Why Borgu And Other Niger Kingdoms Are Falling Under Jagaban

On the day before the final Thursday, as the nation celebrated Independence Day, 20 prospective corps members were abducted while en route to NYSC orientation camps in the Southeast. They embarked from Ibadan, spent the night in Onitsha, and departed early that morning for Owerri. Their bus was intercepted near Umunoha town by kidnappers and transported into the forest, where they endured a distressing week under their captors.

The incident garnered nationwide attention. Thankfully, they were freed after a week of imprisonment; however, the method of their release sparked controversy. Security officials claimed responsibility, whereas the parents of the corps members alleged they had spent millions of naira to secure their freedom. These conflicting narratives have persisted for some time.

The primary concern is that the kidnapping wave, which originated in the north a few years ago and was allowed to persist, has now expanded to the southern regions, posing a national issue. More alarming is that the kidnappers' targets seem to be corps members, who are a prime source of funds. In recent years, there have been growing reports of kidnapping incidents involving corps members.

The most recent incident occurred in Kogi State, where 15 corps members were taken while returning from their orientation camp in Bayelsa State. The present-day corps members are living through a harsh reality. As new graduates preparing for their NYSC service, they face numerous anxieties, especially regarding their safety. Reports of kidnapped corps members have been circulating in the media and understandably cause acute worry among prospective corps members.

For those who lived through the pioneering sets of the NYSC, like me, who served in the 4th set, the scenario is bewildering. In 1976, when I traveled from my home in Maiduguri to Lagos for my NYSC posting, my main concern was the distance, as the country was at peace. Today, moving around the country is fraught with fear of kidnapping, making journeys a significant hassle.

The government's failure to address this terror has left people, including schoolchildren and corps members, at the mercy of kidnappers for prolonged periods, awaiting ransom payments. The case of the Mussi schoolchildren, who have been held captive for nearly five months by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State, highlights the government's apparent indifference to their safety.

With scores of victims held captive across the country and billions of naira paid as ransom, urgent action is needed to ensure the security of our schoolchildren, corps members, and the broader population.