Gunmen kidnap NYSC members in Kogi, police rescue 11

Zainab Abioye

Several members of the National Youth Service Corps have been abducted by gunmen along the Aloma-Egane Highway in Ofu Local Government Area of ​​Kogi State, with police confirming the rescue of 11 victims.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, when armed assailants reportedly emerged from the bush around Ogene Zaria, near the Ogene Zaria/Onicha-Igo junction, and intercepted two buses traveling in opposite directions.

The victims were said to be corps members returning from the NYSC orientation camp in Bayelsa State and heading towards Abuja and various places of primary assignment.

The Kogi State Police Command, however, said it was unable to immediately establish the exact number of those abducted, raising concerns that other force members and other passengers may still be in captivity.

The command’s spokesperson, Saliu Afusat, said in a statement on Friday that a joint security operation launched immediately after the attack led to the rescue of 11 victims, including the drivers of the two buses.

According to her, preliminary debriefing showed that “most” of the people rescued were NYSC members traveling from Bayelsa State to Abuja.

Afusat said police received a distress call shortly after the attack, prompting the Ofu division police officer to lead a joint team of security personnel to the scene.

He said two abandoned vehicles — a white Peace Mass Transit Hummer bus and a yellow 18-passenger bus — were recovered at the scene.

The statement reads in part: “At about 4.40pm, armed hoodlums emerged from the bush around Ogene Zaria, near the Ogene Zaria/Onicha-Igo junction, blocked two buses traveling in opposite directions and abducted some passengers, while others fled into the surrounding bush.

“After receiving the distress call, the Divisional Police Officer, Ofu, led a joint security team to the scene, where two abandoned vehicles were recovered: a white Peace Mass Transit Hummer bus and a yellow 18-seater bus.

“A coordinated clearance and rescue operation was immediately launched, resulting in the rescue of 11 kidnapped victims, including the drivers of the two buses.

“Preliminary debriefing indicates that majority of the rescued victims are NYSC members traveling from Bayelsa State to Abuja.”

Police said the rescued victims were interrogated and after necessary procedures, they were allowed to continue their journey.

The command added that “every available operational and intelligence resource” has been deployed to locate and rescue those still held by the attackers.

The incident has triggered anxiety among families of corps members, with relatives taking to social media to call for urgent intervention from the federal government, NYSC and security agencies.

A woman identified as Chidimma, in a video circulating on social media, appealed for help in securing the release of her sister, who she said was among the corps members abducted while traveling from Bayelsa.

He said his sister had completed the three-week orientation program in Bayelsa and was posted to Niger State, adding that she intended to spend the night in Abuja before traveling to her place of primary deployment.

According to her, the family had not yet established contact with the corps member after the attack.

Another relative, Chisom Ede, also said his sister was among the abducted corps members.

Ede appealed to the NYSC, Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to ensure the safe release of the victims.

Meanwhile, another social media user, identified as @ddevilsworkshop, claimed that his sister was among those traveling in the Peace Mass Transit vehicle.

He reportedly shared a list that contained the names of passengers on board the bus and claimed that the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of $20 million.

The ransom demand and the identities of the remaining abductees could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report.

‘

Want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need advertising for a product, service or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com

We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Please donate any amount HERE