The Lagos State House of Assembly has called on relevant authorities and security agencies to take urgent steps to secure the release of a prospective corps member, Binuyo Lateefah.
The call followed a motion of urgent public importance raised during Thursday’s plenary by the chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Omolara Olumegbon.
Olumegbon said Lateefah, a Mass Communication graduate of Kwara State Polytechnic, was abducted on Jan. 22, 2026, along the Kogi axis while traveling to Taraba State for her National Youth Service Corps assignment. She said the abductors were demanding a ransom of ₦30 million.
She urged the House to write to the Federal Government to strengthen security arrangements for prospective corps members traveling to their states of deployment. She also called for formal engagement with Lagos State Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene by liaising with the Kogi State government to ensure the victim’s safe rescue.
Contributing, lawmaker Noheem Adams praised President Bola Tinubu for efforts to improve national security, saying the situation had shown notable improvement compared with previous administrations.
Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, Ogundipe Stephen, commended the military’s role in maintaining security but stressed the need for intensified action. He appealed to the Lagos governor to engage his Kogi counterpart to enable swift intervention.
Lawmaker Tobun Abiodun suggested the House, through the National Assembly, should urge the NYSC director-general to review deployment procedures, particularly postings to distant and high-risk areas, to reduce exposure to avoidable dangers.
Ruling on the matter, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa described the incident as deeply troubling, noting that young Nigerians who had completed their education and were ready to serve the nation were being exposed to threats such as kidnapping. He said the NYSC leadership must ensure the safety of corps members from their point of travel to their places of deployment and back home.
Obasa added that while he was confident the Lagos governor had already taken steps on the issue, further efforts were needed, including engagement with the Kogi State government and a formal letter to the inspector-general of police to intervene and prevent future occurrences.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State Police Command spokesperson, Saliu Afusat, confirmed the abduction and said efforts were ongoing to secure Lateefah’s release.
“Yes, I am aware. I can’t disclose details. Efforts are being made to secure her release,” she said.
