Rescued NYSC members Photo: Inshot
By Abdullahi Abubakar
The Nigerian military has rescued 15 kidnapped members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and six other persons from a forest in Kogi State, in a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to tackle kidnapping and other criminal activities across the country.
The victims, comprising eight males and 13 females, were rescued during a military operation along the Egume-Ochaja forest stretch in Kogi State.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, announced the development on Monday while briefing journalists on the latest military operations across the country.
According to him, 15 of those rescued were NYSC members who were abducted last week while travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja.
He said the successful operation was carried out within the Egume and Ochaja forest corridor, which falls under the operational area of the military’s 2 Division.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria is also happy to announce that a total of 21 victims, comprising eight males and 13 females, 15 of them being National Youth Service Corps members, have just been rescued within the Egume and Ochaja forest stretch in 2 Division area of operation,” Onoja said.
The rescue is coming amid heightened military operations against terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal elements operating in different parts of the country.
The abduction of the NYSC members had raised concerns over the safety of corps members travelling to their places of primary assignment, particularly as security agencies continue to battle criminal networks operating along major highways and forest corridors.
The latest rescue, however, represents a significant success for the security forces and offers renewed hope to families whose relatives have been held captive by criminal groups.
Onoja said the military had continued to work closely with other security agencies and relevant state government institutions through intelligence sharing and coordinated operations aimed at identifying areas requiring immediate security intervention.
