Security forces have rescued 10 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Aloma-Egane Expressway in Kogi State.
The corps members were kidnapped last Wednesday while travelling from Abuja to Bayelsa State, with the victims subsequently taken into the Egume Forest in Ofu Local Government Area of the state.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, confirmed their rescue on Monday during a press briefing in Abuja.
The Kogi State Police Command also confirmed the development, stating that the rescue operation was jointly conducted by the police, military and Department of State Services (DSS).
In a statement, the command described the operation as a “coordinated, sustained, and intelligence-driven operation” aimed at securing the release of the abducted corps members and dismantling the criminal network responsible for the attack.
The command said security personnel had intensified operations within the affected area as efforts continued to rescue other victims who may still be held by the kidnappers.
“The operation is still ongoing, with the potential to rescue all the kidnapped victims,” the command said.
The police added that its personnel, alongside the military, DSS and other supporting agencies, were sustaining the offensive while tracking the perpetrators and working to prevent further attacks in the area.
The command commended the security personnel involved in the operation for their “gallantry, professionalism, and resilience,” saying their coordinated efforts contributed to the successful rescue of the NYSC members.
It also urged residents of communities around the affected areas to remain vigilant and provide credible information that could assist security agencies in locating other victims and apprehending the fleeing suspects.
The rescue comes amid renewed security operations across parts of Kogi State and other parts of the country to disrupt kidnapping networks and secure major transportation routes.
