Tinubu Confirms Rescue of 15 NYSC Members, 6 Others Abducted in Kogi

President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the rescue of 21 Nigerians, including 15 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who were abducted by criminal elements in Kogi State last week. The successful operation was carried out by a coordinated team of security agencies and local vigilantes.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced on Monday that all 21 abductees, comprising eight males and 13 females, have regained their freedom following a well-coordinated Search and Rescue (SAR) operation. The victims were rescued from a kidnappers’ den in the forests of Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State on Monday afternoon. The operation was carried out by a combined team of personnel from the military, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and local vigilantes. The Defence Headquarters confirmed the rescue, stating that the victims were recovered from the Egume-Ochaja forest stretch in the area of operation.

The 15 NYSC members were reportedly abducted last week while travelling from the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State to Abuja. The incident occurred along the Aloma-Egane expressway in Ofu LGA, Kogi State, a route frequently used by travellers moving between the South-South and the North-Central regions of the country. According to reports, the kidnappers contacted some victims’ families and demanded a N20 million ransom for each corps member, placing enormous financial and emotional strain on the families who were already distraught over the fate of their loved ones. However, security forces launched an intelligence-driven operation that successfully rescued all victims without any ransom payment being reported. The Kogi State Police Command confirmed that the rescue followed a coordinated, sustained, and intelligence-driven operation by security agencies. The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Afusat Saliu, stated that the operation was launched to secure the safe recovery of the victims and dismantle criminal elements operating in the area, sending a clear message that the state would not tolerate such criminality.

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In a statement posted on his verified X handle, @officialABAT, President Tinubu expressed relief over the successful rescue operation, saying, “I am delighted to receive the news that the fifteen members of the National Youth Service Corps and six other innocent and law-abiding Nigerians abducted last week in Kogi State by some criminal elements have regained their freedom.” The President emphasized that the rescue does not mark the end of the operation, directing security forces to continue pursuing the fleeing kidnappers. “While the abductees have been safely rescued, our gallant security forces are still on the trail of the routed kidnappers, in line with my directive to sustain the pressure on all criminal elements,” Tinubu stated. He further vowed that those responsible for the abduction would face the full weight of the law, and security agencies would pursue everyone who aided this crime, signalling that impunity would not be tolerated.

President Tinubu reassured Nigerians of his administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety of citizens across the country. “My administration remains committed to ensuring that every Nigerian can travel across our country without fear,” he said, addressing the growing anxiety among citizens over the rising incidents of kidnapping and banditry on major highways. He particularly reassured parents and loved ones of NYSC members that the administration remains committed to protecting the lives and property of corps members serving across the nation, acknowledging the unique vulnerability of young service members who are often posted to unfamiliar parts of the country. The President commended the combined search-and-rescue team for their courage and professionalism, while also appreciating the families and loved ones of the abductees for their understanding during the ordeal, recognizing the immense psychological toll that such incidents exact on relatives.

In a trending video circulating on social media, one of the rescued corps members narrated the harrowing experience. According to the victim, they were travelling from Bayelsa to Abuja when the kidnappers stopped their vehicle. The driver attempted to escape but was caught, and the victims were led into the bush while being beaten and shot at, creating an atmosphere of terror and desperation. The kidnappers threatened the victims, warning them not to move without permission or they would be shot, keeping them in a constant state of fear for their lives. The victims spent the night in an open field under the watch of their captors before security forces arrived and rescued them, ending what must have felt like an endless nightmare. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) , Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, commended the troops and personnel of other security agencies, as well as local hunters and vigilantes, for their courage, cooperation, and commitment to the successful operation, highlighting the value of inter-agency collaboration in tackling security challenges. One of the male victims reportedly sustained a gunshot wound during the incident and was immediately evacuated to a medical facility for treatment, while all rescued victims are currently receiving medical attention before being reunited with their families.

Tinubu Confirms Rescue of 15 NYSC Members, 6 Others Abducted in Kogi

Lagos pensioners tear-gassed during protest as Sowore demands justice

Police officers in Lagos State reportedly deployed tear gas on Monday to disperse pensioners who gathered at the Lagos House in Ikeja to protest over unpaid pension increases, wage awards and arrears.

The retirees, drawn from the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) and the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), had converged on the Lagos State Government premises to demand the implementation of pension increases they said had been approved and the payment of accumulated benefits.

The protest followed an earlier demonstration by the pensioners, who had accused the Lagos State Government and the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) of delaying the implementation of outstanding pension adjustments.

The retirees had subsequently set August 31, 2026, as a deadline for the government to address their grievances, warning that they would embark on further action if their demands were not met.

The Monday protest reportedly became tense after police officers fired tear gas to disperse the pensioners, forcing some of the elderly protesters away from the government premises.

The incident has generated criticism from activists and political figures, with concerns raised over the use of force against elderly citizens during a demonstration over their welfare.

The pensioners have alleged that several approved pension adjustments and wage awards remain outstanding.

Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Olarewaju Caleb, said the retirees were demanding payment of 57 months of arrears of the 2019 consequential adjustment, alongside arrears relating to the 20 per cent and 28 per cent pension increases approved in 2024.

They are also demanding payment of the N32,000 wage award for state pensioners, which they said should have commenced in January 2024.

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Retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme have similarly demanded outstanding increases dating back several years, including the 15 per cent pension increase of 2010, the 33 per cent increase associated with the 2019 consequential adjustment and the 20 per cent and 28 per cent increases approved in 2024.

The pensioners have argued that the failure to implement the adjustments has worsened the financial pressure faced by retirees, particularly amid rising living costs.

They have also called on Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to meet with them directly and address their concerns.

Some of the retirees reportedly receive monthly pensions that they consider inadequate to meet their basic needs, with their representatives citing payments ranging from about N10,000 to N70,000 for some pensioners.

The protest came shortly after the Lagos State Government defended its record on pension payments.

The government said the Lagos State Pension Commission had paid N168.2 billion to more than 48,000 retirees since 2007.

It further stated that between May 2019 and August 2026, the state disbursed about N92 billion in accrued rights to more than 25,000 retirees.

The government described the figures as evidence of its commitment to pensioners and what it called a strong performance on pension matters.

The state also highlighted a N5 billion single-batch payment in July 2024, which it said helped clear pension backlogs that existed at the time.

The pensioners, however, maintained that the government’s payment figures did not resolve the specific issues at the centre of their current protest.

Their representatives argued that the payments made over the years should not be treated as discretionary gifts because the affected retirees contributed to pension arrangements during their years of public service.

The dispute has consequently developed into a disagreement over both the scale of payments already made and the outstanding liabilities the pensioners say remain unresolved.

Reacting to the reported use of tear gas, African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore condemned the police action and demanded accountability.

Sowore described the incident as an “unprovoked attack” on elderly citizens who were peacefully demanding their retirement entitlements.

He said pensioners who spent years serving the country deserved dignity and respect rather than force while seeking benefits they believed were legally due to them.

“It is bad enough that these senior citizens are being denied their legitimate post-retirement entitlements after giving years of their lives in service. To then unleash tear gas on them for peacefully demanding what is rightfully theirs is cruel, reckless, and completely unacceptable,” Sowore said.

The AAC candidate also called for the police officers allegedly responsible for deploying the tear gas to be identified, arrested and investigated.

He demanded prosecution if investigations establish that the officers acted unlawfully, stressing that those responsible should face the consequences of their actions.

“Our pensioners deserve their entitlements, dignity, and respect, not brutality,” Sowore said.

The controversy has also raised broader questions about the policing of peaceful protests, particularly demonstrations involving elderly citizens.

While the Lagos State Government has pointed to billions of naira already paid to retirees, the pensioners insist that the figures do not address the specific arrears and pension adjustments they are demanding.

The retirees have therefore continued to press for a direct resolution of the dispute, including payment of the outstanding pension increases, wage awards and arrears.

The reported use of tear gas has now added another dimension to the dispute, with attention shifting from pension payments to the conduct of security personnel and the treatment of elderly protesters.

The pensioners are expected to continue engaging the Lagos State Government over their demands, while critics are calling for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the police response.

The immediate challenge for the state government is to reconcile its account of payments to retirees with the specific claims being made by the pensioners and prevent the dispute from escalating further.

For the retirees, however, the issue goes beyond the figures announced by the government. They want the approved pension increases and wage awards implemented and the outstanding arrears paid.

Until those issues are resolved, the dispute over Lagos pension arrears and pensioners’ welfare is likely to remain a major issue between the retirees and the state government.

Lagos pensioners tear-gassed during protest as Sowore demands justice