The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the military brigade to secure the release of eight corps members who were kidnapped in Zamfara State on Saturday. Brig. Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed, the Director General of NYSC, is personally involved in these efforts.
Eddy Megwa, NYSC’s Director of Press and Public Relations, confirmed this development in a telephone interview on Wednesday, revealing that the NYSC DG is presently in Zamfara State coordinating the efforts with the various security agencies.
Gunmen abducted eight members of the NYSC who were traveling in an AKTC bus from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to Sokoto State. They were en route to Zamfara State to participate in the mandatory national service.
Reports indicate that the attackers offloaded the corps members from the bus and took them into the bush. Fortunately, three of the 11 kidnapped corps members managed to escape.
A source from the transport company disclosed that the incident had been reported to both government authorities and security agencies. Tragically, the bus driver was killed during the attack.
In a separate incident, Miss Esther Akande, an NYSC member, was kidnapped on her way to the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Nasarawa State. She was released after her family reportedly paid a ransom of N1 million.
While Esther has provided details of her abduction and release, the NYSC has denied any knowledge of ransom payment, emphasizing that her safe release was a result of combined efforts between security personnel and pleas for her freedom.
Esther’s father, Mr. Akande, also denied paying ransom, but a family source disclosed that contributions from Adeyemi College of Education, where Esther graduated, along with efforts from corps members, undergraduates, and staff, helped raise over half of the ransom amount.
It’s worth noting that the NYSC, security agencies, and concerned parties are working diligently to ensure the safety of the abducted corps members and secure their release from captivity.
