The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of a number of National Youth Service Corps personnel going from Bayelsa State to Abuja, stating 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 woods and obstructed two buses moving in opposing directions.
The command verified the rescue on Friday in response to an enquiry by our correspondent.
The command’s spokeswoman, ASP Salisu Oyiza Afusat, said the Divisional Police Officer, Ofu, led a combined security team to the location after getting a distress call.
She stated that two abandoned vehicles, a Peace Mass Transit white Hummer bus and a yellow 18-seater bus, were discovered before a concerted bush-combing and rescue mission began.
“At about 1640 hrs, 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 ended in the successful rescue of 11 abducted people, including the two bus drivers.
“Preliminary debriefing indicates that most of the rescued victims are NYSC members traveling from Bayelsa State to Abuja,” she said.
Afusat further stated that the rescued victims had been debriefed and, following the necessary processes, were permitted to continue their journey.
She added the joint security operation was still ongoing in the surrounding forest, with the major goals of rescuing any remaining victims, apprehending the criminals, and bringing them to justice.
The command assured the public that all possible operational and intelligence resources were being used to protect the region and ensure the safe recovery of the remaining victims.
The police confirmation came after a woman identifying herself as the sister of one of the abducted corps members made an emotive plea for government help in a viral video.
In the video, she stated her sister had been to Bayelsa for the necessary three-week NYSC orientation training and was returning to Abuja when the vehicle she was driving in was attacked.
“My sister went to Bayelsa for camp, a three-week camp. And after she was posted… On her way coming back from Bayelsa to Abuja… kidnappers attacked them,” she said.
She called on 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 disclosed that 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.
