Police confirm abduction of corps members, rescue 11 in Kogi

The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of a number of National Youth Service Corps members travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja, saying 11 victims have been rescued

The victims were kidnapped 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 command 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, Ofu, led a joint security team to the scene after receiving a distress call.

She said two abandoned vehicles, a Peace Mass Transit white Hummer bus and a yellow 18-seater bus, were recovered before a coordinated bush-combing and rescue operation was launched.

“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,” Afusat said.

According to her, 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,” she said.

Afusat added that the rescued victims had been debriefed and, after necessary procedures, were allowed to continue their journey.

She said the joint security operation remained ongoing in the surrounding forest, with the primary objectives of rescuing any remaining victims, apprehending the perpetrators and bringing them to justice.

The command assured members of the public that every available operational and intelligence resource was being deployed to secure the area and ensure the safe recovery of the remaining victims.

The police confirmation came after a lady who identified herself as the sister of one of the abducted corps members made an emotional appeal for government intervention in a viral video.

In the video, she said her sister had travelled to Bayelsa for the mandatory three-week NYSC orientation programme and was returning to Abuja when the vehicle she was travelling in 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, NYSC and Nigerians to help secure the release of the abducted victims.

“I am begging Nigerians… Nothing should happen to them. Nothing should happen to my sister,” she said.

The woman also said her family had recently lost their mother and pleaded for help in securing her sister’s safe return.

“Please, everybody help us. Everybody help us. My family is going through a lot, please,” she said.