Eight corps members, driver abducted by Zamfara bandits
In a distressing incident, bandits have abducted eight National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Zamfara State, raising concerns for their safety.
According to sources, the corps members were traveling in an Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) bus from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to Sokoto State, where they were scheduled to begin their one-year national service. However, their journey took a harrowing turn when their bus was intercepted by armed gunmen.
An anonymous senior official from the transport company confirmed the incident, stating that out of the 11 corps members and the driver who were on board the bus, three corps members managed to escape while the remaining eight and the driver were seized by the abductors.
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Narrating the events, the official said, “They left Uyo on Friday and stayed overnight in Abuja. It was during their onward journey to Sokoto that they were kidnapped. The corps members were forced off the bus and taken into the bush. The police have recovered the bus.”
The incident has been reported to the authorities and security agencies, with efforts underway to ensure the safe and swift rescue of the abducted individuals.
Social media posts have also emerged, identifying some of the abducted corps members and highlighting the desperate situation. One victim, Emmanuel Esudue, a graduate of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering from Akwa Ibom State University, has been unreachable since Thursday. Another victim, Betty Udofia, had her parents contacted by the kidnappers, who demanded a ransom of N4 million for her release.
In response to the alarming situation, a concerned individual reached out, pleading for prayers and urging officials, including Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, to take immediate action and seek the intervention of their counterparts in Sokoto and Zamfara.
