NYSC Begins Plans to Secure Release of 8 Kidnapped Corps Members

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has disclosed that plans are underway to secure the freedom of 8 corps members kidnapped in Zamfara State on Saturday.

According to the Director General, Brig. Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed, the NYSC is working with the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the military brigade to ensure their prompe release.

Gunmen waylaid a busload of passengers including the 8 corpers on a highway in Zamfara on Saturday, while on their way to camp.

Reports say they were travelling inside an AKTC bus from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to Sokoto State, en route to Zamfara State, when the incident happened.Confirming the incident to The Punch, a source from the transport company said the corps members were 11 in number, but three escaped during the attack by the gunmen.


The Source, who pleaded anonymity, also revealed that the bus driver was also killed, but the incident had been reported to the government authorities.

“The corps members were offloaded (from the bus) and taken into the bush. The police have recovered the bus.

“They left here (Uyo) on Friday and slept over in Abuja. It was when they were proceeding to Sokoto that they were kidnapped,” he said.

Confirming the incident to The Punch, a source from the transport company said the corps members were 11 in number, but three escaped during the attack by the gunmen.


The Source, who pleaded anonymity, also revealed that the bus driver was also killed, but the incident had been reported to the government authorities.

“The corps members were offloaded (from the bus) and taken into the bush. The police have recovered the bus.

“They left here (Uyo) on Friday and slept over in Abuja. It was when they were proceeding to Sokoto that they were kidnapped,” he said.

Meanwhile, the NYSC Director of Press and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, told the platform on Wednesday that efforts have started to secure their release.

He said, “As I speak to you, the NYSC DG is in Zamfara state, and the NYSC is currently working with the police, the military brigade, and the DSS to release the 8 corps members that were kidnapped in Zamfara,”

According to Local Man News, an Akwa Ibom-based comedian, and influencer who informed the public about the terrible incident in a Facebook live video broadcast today,.

He said the victims were kidnapped in an Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) Bus but sadly the company is yet to issue a press statement about the ugly incident since it occurred on the 17th of August, 2023. The comedian also stated that the kidnappers were also asking for the sum of 4 million Naira as ransom money for each of the prospective corps members they had abducted.

He also pleaded with the state government and other goodhearted individuals to act swiftly to set the victims free.

Three of the abducted victims have been identified as Emmanuel Esudue, an agricultural engineering graduate of Akwa Ibom State University, Uyobong Akpan, and Betty Udofia both graduates of the University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

In a Facebook post regarding the incident in which he also tagged the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Senator Akon Eyakenyi. Emmanuel Esudue’s friend Victor Edima while lamenting about what had befallen his friend begged everyone to come to the rescue of his friend.

“Emmanuel Emmanuel Esudue lost contact with me at exactly 04:58pm on Thursday (17th of August, 2023). Only to be informed on Saturday after trying my best to reach him, that he was kidnapped at Zamfara State on his way to Nysc orientation camp at Sokoto state.

“I’m communicating with the mother every minute to know his situation. He was shot in the leg and he’s weak and bleeding while ransom is requested for his release.

“Please we need intervention, monetary and physical security.
Please call my number (07064464121) if you have any help to offer us, ” he wrote.