Two National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Corp members who were among eight kidnapped while on their way to service have been rescued.
Spokesperson for NYSC Eddy Megwa, who disclosed this on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, December 8, 2023, said this brings to four the number of corp members so far rescued.
Eight corps members were abducted by gunmen along a highway in Zamfara State on August 19.
The corps members were travelling from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to Sokoto State, en route Zamfara State, to take part in the mandatory national service.
“We really thank God yesterday we were all excited to hear that two of our prospective Corp members that were kidnapped in the Zamfara saga were rescued by the military,” Megwa said.
“It’s a thing to be happy, and it’s hope for all of us, for the family that even for the remaining four (two male and two females) would be rescued very soon, the hope is rising everyday.
“It’s been worrisome for us in the scheme over this number of months that these young ones that are coming on to serve their father land were kidnapped on their way to Sokoto.
“Recall they were 11 in number and three escaped at the point of kidnap remaining eight and the driver, they took them to the bush. On the 1st of September we were able to get one rescued on the 20th of October another girl was rescued just yesterday we also had two out of the den of the kidnappers.”
He said the rescued corp members are in the hospital getting medical attention and once they are strong they will reunite with their families and get on with their national service.
“We are so happy and we are excited the DG told the entire nation that we will stop at nothing to ensure that these prospective Corp members are rescued unhurt. So what just happened is that there is hope for the remaining four that are still in the kidnappers den.“
Asked whether there is communication if the remaining four are still alive:”Yes, with what the military is doing and as we know security issues are not suppose to be discussed in the open, we have strong hope and believe that everything is good with them. And why they keep on making efforts to get them rescued as soon as they are out I’m sure we will be informed and we will all be happy for it.“
The schemes’ spokesperson reiterated that corp members should stop travelling at night due to the insecurity situation in the country.
“The NYSC corps members are not insulated from the entire Nigerian nation, but this kidnapping issue is everywhere, and the only thing we need to do is to take precautionary measures so that we don’t run into these men of the underworld.
“What are we suppose to do? ensure you don’t travel in the night, travel when it’s safe, travel at the day time, once it’s six break your journey move somewhere and after that you continue your journey.
“For parents whose wards were kidnapped I’m sure are going through serious grief just as we in NYSC. But if you take precautionary measures, just as we told them this thing will not happen.“
He blamed the driver of the bus the corp members were traveling in, for not adhering to warnings concerning traveling at night.
“If the driver of that vehicle had packed where others were packing waiting for the military to see them through or stay over till tomorrow morning this wouldn’t have happened. But some of them would be so insisting they want to continue the journey which is not good. Stick to the rules and you would be safe, it’s just as simple as that.
“The incident happened in the night and the roads are bad and that Funtua road, till date once it’s 6pm nobody moves through that road again. In fact the military would even tell you hold on when we see that it’s safe for you to go we can even see you across.
“If you dare to move on that road after 6pm it’s a dead end, you don’t do that but the driver defied all these instructions and moved.
“But that’s story for the past what we are focusing now is how the security will continue to intensify effort to get the remaining four prospective corp members released so that they can reunite with their families and continue with their service.“
