The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has reacted to the safe rescue of 15 corps members who were abducted in Kogi State, following a coordinated operation by security agencies that also freed six other kidnapped Nigerians.
The corps members were among 21 people abducted in Kogi State last week while travelling after completing their NYSC orientation activities. The victims were rescued from the forests of Ofu Local Government Area following an operation involving the military, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and local vigilantes.
The successful rescue has brought relief to the families and colleagues of the corps members, who had been waiting anxiously for their safe return.
The rescued group comprised 15 NYSC members and six other Nigerians, with the 21 victims made up of eight males and 13 females. According to President Bola Tinubu, the victims were receiving medical attention before being reunited with their families.
The corps members were reportedly travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja after completing their orientation programme when they were abducted along a route in Kogi State.
Reports indicate that they were members of the 2026 Batch 'B' Stream II.
Security forces launched a search-and-rescue operation after receiving information about the abduction. The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Naziru Kankarofi, said the operation involved several security agencies as well as local hunters and vigilantes who provided valuable knowledge of the terrain.
The rescue comes amid renewed concerns over the safety of corps members travelling to their places of primary assignment and other destinations across the country.
The NYSC scheme regularly deploys thousands of young Nigerian graduates to different parts of the country for national service, making the safety of corps members a continuing concern for their families and the wider public.
Following the rescue, President Tinubu commended the security personnel involved in the operation and assured parents and guardians of corps members that his administration remained committed to protecting their lives and property.
The President also said security forces were continuing to pursue the kidnappers responsible for the abduction and vowed that those involved would face the full weight of the law.
The development has renewed calls for stronger security measures along major highways and travel routes used by corps members and other Nigerians. It has also highlighted the importance of rapid intelligence sharing and cooperation between security agencies and local communities in responding to kidnapping incidents.
For the rescued corps members, the immediate priority remains their recovery and safe reunion with their families after days in captivity.
The incident nevertheless adds to the continuing national conversation about the safety of young Nigerians undertaking national service, particularly those travelling through areas affected by insecurity.