Days After Abduction: Where Are Ondo Corps Members?
The issue of kidnapping has become a continuous threat to the peace and security of lives in many states around the country. This has perpetually threatened Nigerians who travel from their state to another to serve their fatherland under the National Youth Service Corps scheme. Although it has not been a persistent incident, it has always instilled fear in the potential and Serving Corps members of the NYSC.
The most recent incident of kidnapping of the members of the NYSC has flickered mixed reactions. Though, the government has always been at the forefront of the menace.
Nonetheless, the whereabouts of some members of the National Youth Service Corps who were kidnapped at Rumuji in Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State are still unknown six days after the incident.
Recall that an unspecified number of corps members, who were returning from the NYSC orientation camp in Ondo State to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, were abducted along the Emuoha axis of the East-West Road.
It was learned that the bus in which they were traveling was intercepted by the miscreants last Tuesday.
It was further gathered that in the pandemonium that ensued, five of the corps members escaped, while an unspecified number who were not so lucky were whisked away to an unknown destination.
This came as some corps members currently serving in Port Harcourt appealed to the kidnappers to release their abducted colleagues unconditionally and unharmed.
Some of them, who spoke to our correspondent at the Rivers State NYSC Secretariat along Ikwerre Road, said their colleagues being held by the kidnappers have not seen their parents for over three weeks and called on the security agencies to up their game and ensure the rescue of the corps members on national assignment.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the search for the abducted corps members has intensified.
Iringe-Koko while speaking to the PUNCH on Tuesday, said that though nothing has been heard of them, the Commissioner of Police, Okon Effiong, has ordered fresh deployment to ensure the release of the youths.
She stated, “Well, no information has been received for now. But the CP has ordered fresh deployment, including special units to comb the bushes and forest.
“This is in addition to the earlier tactical team mobilized to find the corps members as well as apprehend the kidnappers and make them face justice.
“So we are on top of the situation, but we will not disclose our strategy, even though we are hopeful.”
Iringe-Koko, a superintendent of police, however, said the five corps members who escaped during the incident were safe and had since reunited with their families.
PUNCH