Fifteen National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted by suspected kidnappers in Kogi State have been rescued alongside six other victims after a joint security operation in the forests of Ofu Local Government Area, President Bola Tinubu announced.
The 21 abductees, comprising eight males and 13 females, were freed on Monday afternoon following a Search and Rescue operation involving personnel of the military, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) , the Department of State Services (DSS) and local vigilantes, Tinubu said in a statement on Monday.
The corps members and the other rescued Nigerians are receiving medical attention before they are reunited with their families, the President added.
The victims were abducted last week by criminal elements in Kogi State, although the statement did not disclose the precise circumstances of the attack or the location from which they were taken.
Tinubu said the rescue operation had not ended the security response as troops and other operatives were still pursuing the kidnappers who fled their forest hideout.
The President said he had directed the security agencies to sustain pressure on the perpetrators and promised that those responsible for the abduction, including people who assisted the crime, would face prosecution.
“Those responsible will face the full weight of the law, and our security agencies will pursue everyone who aided this crime,” Tinubu said.
He also linked the operation to his administration’s stated commitment to making road travel safer for Nigerians, saying citizens should be able to move across the country without fear.
The successful recovery of the corps members is particularly significant because NYSC participants are deployed across the country, often serving in communities far from their places of residence. The President said the safety of corps members was a responsibility his administration took seriously.
Tinubu commended the security personnel involved in the operation for their courage, while also acknowledging the families of the abducted Nigerians for their patience during the ordeal.
He specifically sought to reassure parents of corps members that the government was committed to protecting their lives and property, alongside those of other Nigerians.
The President’s announcement did not state whether any suspect had been arrested during the operation or whether weapons were recovered from the kidnappers’ hideout.
For now, the 21 rescued victims are under medical care, while security personnel continue efforts to locate the fleeing abductors, according to Tinubu.
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