Kogi Police Confirm NYSC Kidn*p Incident, 11 Victims Freed

Authorities in Kogi State, specifically the Police Command, have verified the abduction of several National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who were en route from Bayelsa State to Abuja. The command also confirmed the successful rescue of 11 of these victims.

The kidn*pping incident took place last Wednesday along the Aloma–Egane Expressway within the Ofu Local Government Area of the state. Reports indicate that armed hoodlums emerged from a nearby bush, obstructing two passenger buses traveling in opposite directions before abducting some occupants.

The Kogi State Police Command’s spokesperson, ASP Salisu Oyiza Afusat, provided details of the rescue operation on Friday following inquiries. She stated that upon receiving a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Ofu LGA promptly mobilized a joint security team to the scene. During their initial response, two abandoned vehicles — a white Peace Mass Transit Hummer bus and a yellow 18-seater bus — were recovered. This discovery led to the launch of a coordinated search and rescue operation into the surrounding bush.

ASP Afusat recounted the sequence of events: “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 further confirmed that the operation resulted in the successful release of 11 abducted individuals, which included the drivers of both buses.

Preliminary interviews with the rescued victims revealed that a majority were NYSC members traveling from Bayelsa State to Abuja. Afusat added that after their debriefing and completion of necessary procedures, the rescued individuals were permitted to continue their journeys.

The joint security operation is still active in the forest areas, with ongoing efforts to locate and rescue any remaining victims, apprehend the perpetrators, and ensure they face justice. The police command has reassured the public that all available operational and intelligence resources are being deployed to secure the affected area and facilitate the safe recovery of those still missing.

The police confirmation came after a poignant appeal went viral on social media. A lady, identifying herself as the sister of one of the abducted corps members, pleaded emotionally for government intervention. In her video, she explained that her sister had just completed the mandatory three-week NYSC orientation camp in Bayelsa and was returning to Abuja when their vehicle was attacked by kidn*ppers. “My sister went to Bayelsa for camp, three weeks camp. And after she was posted… On her way coming back from Bayelsa to Abuja… kidn*ppers attacked them,” she lamented. She urged the government, NYSC, and all Nigerians to assist in securing the release of the victims. “I am begging Nigerians… Nothing should happen to them. Nothing should happen to my sister,” she pleaded, also mentioning that her family had recently suffered the loss of their mother, intensifying her plea for help: “Please, everybody help us. Everybody help us. My family is going through a lot, please.”