A member of the National Youth Service Corps serving in Ibadan, Oyo State, Rofiat Lawal, has been kidnapped by yet-to-be-identified abductors along the Benin-Ore Expressway.
The incident occurred on Tuesday when Lawal was returning from Benin, Edo State to report to her place of primary assignment in Ogbomosho.
According to a Facebook post by a user, Agbakwara, Lawal was abducted while inside an Ore-bound bus. The abductors are demanding N20m for her release. Agbakwara described Lawal as a close friend who has struggled all her life, supporting herself through university by working at the Dufil company in Benin.
The Oyo State NYSC Coordinator, Odoba Oche, confirmed the incident and stated that security operatives had been alerted to the situation for necessary action. However, Oche noted that Lawal had traveled to Benin without informing the NYSC authority, contrary to the corps’ instructions.
Lawal’s family has reported the incident to the NYSC secretariat in Ibadan, but no official response has been received yet. The family is appealing for help, as they are unable to afford the ransom demand.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of corps members traveling to and from their places of primary assignment. The NYSC has continued to emphasize the need for corps members to always notify authorities before traveling and to avoid night travels.