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

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