President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the rescue of 15 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and six other civilians who were kidnapped while travelling through Kogi State.
The 21 victims were rescued on Monday afternoon from a forest in Ofu Local Government Area, Kogi State, following a coordinated Search and Rescue (SAR) operation involving the military, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and local vigilantes.
Tinubu said the rescued victims comprised 13 females and eight males. He added that the corps members and other abductees were receiving medical attention and would be reunited with their families after treatment.
The NYSC members were kidnapped last week while returning from their orientation camp in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. They were travelling towards Abuja when armed men reportedly stopped their vehicles along the Aloma-Egane expressway in Ofu LGA, Kogi State.
The police had confirmed the incident and said security agencies were working together to locate and rescue the victims. A video shared after the rescue showed one of the corps members describing how the abductees were taken into the bush and threatened by their captors.
The corps member said the gunmen forced them into the forest after stopping their vehicle, while some victims were beaten and shots were fired into the air. The abductees were later moved through the bush and warned not to move without permission.
Another victim, who said he was travelling from Abuja to Abakaliki in Ebonyi State, also described hearing gunshots before he and other passengers attempted to escape into the bush. He said the kidnappers eventually captured them and took them into a mountainous area.
Tinubu praised the security personnel involved in the operation and said the government remained committed to protecting Nigerians and ensuring that citizens could travel across the country without fear. He also directed security agencies to maintain pressure on the fleeing kidnappers and ensure those responsible face the law.
The rescue comes amid continued concerns over kidnapping and armed violence across Nigeria. A recent report by SBM Intelligence estimated that 7,825 people were kidnapped between July 2025 and June 2026, representing a 66% increase from the previous year. Security remains a major issue for the Tinubu administration as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.
