Nigeria | Youth Service Scheme, NYSC, Announce Rescue Of Corps Member Abducted By Terrorists 

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig Gen Y.D. Ahmed has announced the rescue of a prospective corps member, Solomon Daniel Bassey, who was abducted in August 2023.

The DG stated this at a press briefing on Friday at the NYSC Headquarters, Abuja.

“On August 22, we rescued the last corps member in a set of eight, Solomon Daniel Bassey,” he said.

SaharaReporters had reported on August 23, 2023, that eight corps members were kidnapped by suspected terrorists on their way to camp in Zamfara State on Monday, August 21, 2023.

The prospective corps members were travelling in an Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) bus from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to Sokoto State, for the one-year mandatory national service, when their vehicle was intercepted by the hoodlums.

Although there were reportedly 11 corps members and the driver in the bus, three of the corps members escaped during the attack.

The eight corps members were abducted alongside the driver.

Emmanuel Esudue, a graduate of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, from Akwa Ibom State University, and Victoria Udoka, a graduate of Mass Communication from the University of Uyo were among the young graduates who were kidnapped by the terrorists.

SaharaReporters also reported on August 24, that the Nigeria Police Force and the army had organised a search party for the kidnapped corps members.

The NYSC Director, Press and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, had said one of the seven corps members was still in captivity.

Titled: “Update on kidnapped prospective corps members: one released from captivity,” the NYSC expressed optimism that the rest of the abductees would be rescued and reunited with their families.

The statement had partly read: “Management of the National Youth Service Corps wishes to convey to the general public that the Scheme, through the help of security agencies has secured the release of one of the female Prospective Corps Members abducted in Zamfara State on Friday, 20th October, 2023, at about 12.30pm, out of the seven in captivity and the bus driver.

“The Scheme is confident that with the combined efforts of security agencies, the remaining will be released.

“As Corps Members and prospective ones alike are admonished by Management to always prioritise their personal security; the Scheme shall never shirk its responsibility of upholding the security and welfare of Corps Members at all times.”