Abba Musa Usman, the kidnapped member of Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), recently appeared alive in a disturbing video months after his abduction, but Haruna Danjuma, National President of the Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria, warns that the government must either guarantee corps members’ safety or discontinue the scheme.
The disturbing video intensified national outrage and renewed calls for the federal government to either guarantee the safety of corps members or scrap the programme entirely.
The victim was abducted by armed bandits on January 9 while travelling to Sokoto State to begin his mandatory national service.
A video that surfaced online around the 19th day of Ramadan (March 8–9, 2026) showed the young graduate confirming he was still alive but remained in captivity. In the footage, he appealed desperately for help, contradicting earlier rumours that he had been killed.
The video emerged after reports that his family had already paid ₦10 million in ransom, only for the kidnappers to abruptly cut communication and later demand additional items—including motorcycles—before releasing him.
Despite the payment, Usman remains in captivity.
Rising Anger From Parents
The case has triggered fresh alarm about the safety of young graduates participating in Nigeria’s mandatory national service programme.
“On behalf of parents, we are not happy with what is happening,” Danjuma told Sunday PUNCH.
“It is painful to lose a child. Parents struggle to train their children from birth through university, only for them to be kidnapped during NYSC.”
Participation in the NYSC scheme is compulsory for Nigerian graduates under the age of 30, making the government responsible for their welfare during the service year, he said.
“If the government cannot protect these children, then scrap the NYSC,” Danjuma added. “The value of the scheme is already defeated if the participants are not safe.”
He urged the federal government to require state governors and security agencies to formally guarantee the safety of corps members before they are deployed.
Amnesty International: “Parents’ Fears Are Justified”
Human rights advocates have echoed the concerns.
Isa Sanusi, Executive Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, said families are being forced into an impossible situation—negotiating directly with kidnappers to save their children.
“The concerns of parents are absolutely legitimate,” Sanusi said.
“There is no way someone would train a child up to university level, send him to NYSC, and then end up paying ransom to kidnappers.”
Sanusi accused authorities of failing to provide adequate institutional support to families dealing with abduction cases.
“For NYSC to leave parents to struggle with ransom payments while waiting to see whether their children will be killed is quite irresponsible,” he said.
Even if the programme is not scrapped, Sanusi argued, corps members should not be posted to areas with active security threats.
Dangerous Roads for Corps Members
Usman’s abduction highlights a growing pattern in northern Nigeria, where highways in the North-West and North-East have become increasingly dangerous.
Armed groups frequently target travellers, including corps members, for kidnapping.
Security reports suggest kidnappers earned more than ₦46.1 million from abducting NYSC members between 2023 and early 2025.
Some victims have reportedly been held for months—or even up to a year—before release.
Although the NYSC management has previously disputed claims of widespread killings of corps members, officials acknowledge that security risks remain high in certain regions.
A Case That Shocked the Country
Usman, a graduate of Plant Science and Biotechnology from Federal University Gusau, was travelling to Sokoto when he was seized by bandits.
Earlier reports said his family had even held a burial ceremony for him on March 5, believing he had been killed after failing to raise the ransom.
Days later, the kidnappers released a new video showing him alive but visibly weak.
The footage, which also shows him being beaten by the abductors, has circulated widely online and reignited public debate about the safety of young Nigerians participating in the service scheme.
A National Debate Rekindled
The NYSC programme—established in 1973 to promote national unity by posting graduates to states outside their regions—has long been a cornerstone of Nigeria’s post-university experience.
But rising insecurity has led to growing calls for reform.
For many parents, Usman’s ordeal represents a painful question: Should young graduates be required to serve in parts of the country where their lives may be at risk?
Until that question is answered, critics say, the future of the programme will remain under intense scrutiny.
