The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of National Youth Service Corps members travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja, saying 11 victims have been rescued.
The corps members and other passengers were abducted on Wednesday along the Aloma-Egane Expressway in Ofu Local Government Area of the state.
According to the police, armed hoodlums emerged from the bush near Ogene Zaria and the Ogene Zaria/Onicha-Igo Junction, blocking two buses travelling in opposite directions before abducting some of the passengers.
The command’s spokesperson, ASP Salisu Oyiza Afusat, said the Divisional Police Officer in Ofu led a joint security team to the area after receiving a distress call.
She said two abandoned vehicles, a white Peace Mass Transit Hummer bus and a yellow 18-seater bus, were recovered at the scene.
Afusat said security operatives subsequently launched a coordinated bush-combing and rescue operation.
“At about 1640hrs, armed hoodlums emerged from the bush around Ogene Zaria, near the Ogene Zaria/Onicha-Igo Junction, blocked two buses travelling in opposite directions and abducted some passengers, while others escaped into the surrounding bush,” she said.
The operation led to the rescue of 11 victims, including the drivers of the two buses.
“Preliminary debriefing indicates that most of the rescued victims are NYSC members travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja,” Afusat said.
She added that the rescued victims had been debriefed and, after the necessary procedures, were allowed to continue their journey.
