The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of some National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja, with 11 victims rescued.
The incident occurred last Wednesday along the Aloma–Egane Expressway in Ofu Local Government Area of the state when armed hoodlums reportedly emerged from the bush and blocked two buses travelling in opposite directions.
The police confirmed the rescue on Friday in response to an enquiry by our correspondent.
The command’s spokesperson, ASP Salisu Oyiza Afusat, said the Divisional Police Officer in Ofu mobilised a joint security team to the scene after receiving a distress call.
According to her, the security team recovered two abandoned vehicles—a white Hummer bus belonging to Peace Mass Transit and a yellow 18-seater bus—before commencing a coordinated bush-combing and rescue operation.
Afusat said, “At about 1640hrs, armed hoodlums emerged from the bush around Ogene Zaria, near the Ogene Zaria/Onicha-Igo Junction, blocked two buses travelling in opposite directions and abducted some passengers, while others escaped into the surrounding bush.”
She said the operation led to the successful rescue of 11 abducted victims, including the drivers of the two buses.
“Preliminary debriefing indicates that most of the rescued victims are NYSC members travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja,” she added.
The police spokesperson said the rescued victims had been debriefed and, after undergoing the necessary procedures, were allowed to continue their journey.
She, however, disclosed that the joint security operation was still ongoing in the surrounding forest to rescue any remaining victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
Afusat assured members of the public that the command was deploying all available operational and intelligence resources to secure the area and ensure the safe recovery of the remaining victims.
The police confirmation followed a viral video in which a woman, who identified herself as the sister of one of the abducted corps members, appealed to the government and Nigerians for intervention.
The woman said her sister had travelled to Bayelsa State for the mandatory three-week NYSC orientation programme and was returning to Abuja when the vehicle conveying her was attacked.
“My sister went to Bayelsa for camp, three weeks camp. And after she was posted… On her way coming back from Bayelsa to Abuja… kidnappers attacked them,” she said.
She appealed to the government, the NYSC and Nigerians to help secure the release of the remaining abducted corps members.
“I am begging Nigerians… Nothing should happen to them. Nothing should happen to my sister,” she pleaded.
The woman also disclosed that her family had recently lost their mother, urging authorities and members of the public to help ensure her sister’s safe return.
“Please, everybody help us. Everybody help us. My family is going through a lot, please,” she said.
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