The Lagos State House of Assembly has called for urgent intervention by security agencies and relevant authorities to secure the release of a prospective member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Miss Lateefah Binuyo, who was abducted in Kogi State.
Binuyo, a Mass Communication graduate of Kwara State Polytechnic, was reportedly kidnapped on January 22 while travelling to Taraba State for the NYSC orientation programme. She is said to be the only child of her mother, a detail that drew emotional reactions during plenary.
The lawmakers’ intervention followed a motion of urgent public importance raised on Thursday by the Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Mrs Omolara Olumegbon.
Moving the motion, Olumegbon disclosed that the abductors had demanded a ransom of N30 million for the victim’s release. She urged the Assembly to formally appeal to the Federal Government to strengthen security arrangements for prospective corps members, especially those travelling long distances to their places of deployment.
She also called on the House to engage Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to intervene by liaising with the Kogi State Government to ensure Binuyo’s safe and speedy rescue.
Contributing to the debate, the Majority Leader, Mr Noheem Adams, acknowledged the security challenges facing the country but commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as sustained efforts to improve national security. According to him, the current security framework has shown notable progress compared to previous administrations.
Another lawmaker, Mr Stephen Ogundipe, praised the Nigerian military for its continued role in safeguarding the nation and supported calls for collaboration between the Lagos and Kogi State governments to address the situation urgently.
Mr Abiodun Tobun, in his contribution, urged the Assembly to push for a review of NYSC deployment procedures. He suggested that the National Assembly should write to the Director-General of the scheme to reconsider the posting of prospective corps members to distant or high-risk areas, noting that such postings expose young graduates to avoidable dangers.
In his remarks, Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, described the incident as disturbing and painful. He lamented that at a time when some youths were losing interest in education, those who had successfully completed their studies and were willing to serve the nation were being exposed to threats such as kidnapping.
Obasa stressed that the NYSC leadership has a duty to guarantee the safety of corps members, from their point of departure to their places of deployment and eventual return to their families.
While expressing confidence that the Sanwo-Olu administration was already taking steps to address the matter, the Speaker urged intensified efforts through direct engagement with the Kogi State Government, in line with lawmakers’ recommendations.
He added that the Assembly would also write to the Inspector-General of Police, calling for immediate action to rescue the abducted corps member and to put measures in place to prevent a recurrence of such incidents
