By Boluwaji Obahopo, Lokoja
Ten National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted by suspected kidnappers have been rescued from Egume Forest in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The victims were rescued in a joint operation involving the police, military, Department of State Services (DSS) and other security and auxiliary forces.
The 10 were among 15 corps members kidnapped last week while travelling from Abuja to Bayelsa State.
The abductors were said to have contacted some of the victims’ families, demanding N20 million ransom for each corps member.
However, the Kogi State Police Command, in a statement on Monday, said the rescue followed a coordinated, sustained and intelligence-driven operation by the security agencies.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Afusat Saliu, said the operation was launched to secure the safe recovery of the victims, dismantle criminal elements operating in the area and bring those responsible for the abduction to justice.
“The operation is still ongoing, with the potential to rescue all the kidnapped victims. Security forces have intensified operations within the area while simultaneously pursuing the perpetrators,” she said.
The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, commended personnel of the police, military, DSS and other supporting security and auxiliary forces for their gallantry, professionalism and resilience during the operation.
He also appreciated residents of the affected communities for their cooperation and timely provision of credible information, which he said was critical to the success of the ongoing security operations.
The Command urged members of the public to remain calm and vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or information that could assist security agencies in locating the remaining victims and apprehending the perpetrators.
The police assured residents that all available operational resources were being deployed to ensure the safe recovery of the remaining victims and arrest those behind the abduction.
It said further updates would be made available to the public as soon as operational circumstances permitted.
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