Kogi police rescue 11 after gunmen abduct NYSC members

Several National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members were abducted on Wednesday along the Aloma-Egane Expressway in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The corps members were travelling from the NYSC orientation camp in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA of Bayelsa State after completing their camp activities when the incident occurred.

Saliu Afusat, spokesperson for the Kogi police command, said security operatives began a rescue operation shortly after the abduction was reported.

Afusat said the operation led to “the successful rescue of 11 abducted victims, including the drivers of the two buses”.

According to the police spokesperson, “most” of those rescued were found to be NYSC members..

“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,” the police statement reads in part.

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

“A coordinated bush-combing and rescue operation was immediately launched. The operation resulted in 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.

“The rescued victims have been debriefed and, after necessary procedures, were allowed to continue their journey.”

The Kogi police command said it was using “every available operational and intelligence resource” in efforts to locate and rescue those still being held.

FAMILY MEMBERS REACT

The abduction has generated reactions on X, where several users said their relatives were among those taken and claimed they were still in captivity.

In a widely circulated video, a woman identified as Chidimma was seen crying as she appealed to the government, NYSC and members of the public to help secure the release of her sister.

“My sister went to Bayelsa for NYSC three-week camp. After which she was posted to Niger State. She had planned to sleep over in Abuja and on the next day, Thursday, proceed to Niger State for her PPA,” the lady said.

“On her way coming to Abuja, kidnappers attacked them. The driver was killed. My sister and the rest of the corps members were taken to the bush. Up till now, we have not heard anything.

“The police have not given us any positive feedback. I’m begging Nigerians and the government to do something. Please, nothing should happen to my sister. We just lost our mum not quite long ago.”

In a separate post, a man identified as Chisom Ede said his sister was also among those abducted.

“Hello everyone, please, I urgently need your help and attention. My sister and other NYSC corps members who left Bayelsa State yesterday were attacked along the Kogi Express Road. Sadly, the driver was killed, and the corps members were reportedly taken into the forest,” he wrote.

“Up until now, we have not heard from them, and the family is deeply worried and devastated. We have contacted the police, but unfortunately, we have not received any positive feedback yet.

“Please, I am appealing to the NYSC, the Federal Government, security agencies, and everyone who can help to urgently intervene and do everything possible to rescue them safely.”

Another X user, identified as @ddevilsworkshop, also said his sister was among those abducted.

He posted a list said to contain the names of passengers who travelled in the Peace Mass Transit vehicle and claimed that the abductors were demanding N20 million as ransom.