OWERRI – The Igbo National Council (INC) has strongly advised federal and state security authorities to fully engage local vigilante groups in the ongoing mission to rescue the abducted National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State.
Tripod Times reports that the recommendation was made via an official press statement signed by the National President of the INC, Comrade Chilos Godsent, on Monday morning. The socio-cultural group emphasized that local vigilantes possess an intimate, unparalleled knowledge of the difficult terrain and forests where the bandits are currently hiding.
While the INC highly commended the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and the military high command for their swift response—including the deployment of a Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) and specialized tactical squads—the group insisted that a collaborative approach is necessary to break the current deadlock.
Security experts note that the joint rescue operation, which consists of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the Department of State Services (DSS), has faced severe complications. Over the weekend, the Imo State Police Command revealed that although drone surveillance successfully located the bandits’ enclave, tactical advancement was delayed because the kidnappers had heavily mined the camp’s boundaries with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
The INC believes that incorporating community-based intelligence and native search parties will help the joint forces bypass these deadly traps, accelerate the clearance process, and rescue the remaining 20 prospective corps members unharmed without succumbing to the bandits’ N1 billion ransom demands
