Although there were reportedly 11 corps members and the driver in the bus, three of the corps members escaped during the attack.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has said it has collaborated with other security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to rescue eight kidnapped corps members in Zamfara State.
SaharaReporters reported that eight corps members had been kidnapped by suspected terrorists on their way to camp in Zamfara State on Monday, August 21, 2023.
The 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.
In a press statement released by Dr Eddy Megwa, NYSC Director, Press and Public Relations on Thursday, the NYSC Director General, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, met with traditional rulers, cleric and other rulers in the state to discuss how the abducted NYSC members would be released without being hurt.
The statement reads: “The National Youth Service Corps in conjunction with security agencies in the country are working round the clock to secure the safe release of the eight prospective Corps Members who were abducted in Zamfara State on their way to the Orientation Camp in Sokoto.
“The NYSC Director General, Brigadier General YD Ahmed disclosed this today during an interactive session with members of the House of Representatives Committee on Youth, led by Honourable Martin Esin.
“He added that NYSC Management is making consultations with different stakeholders including Zamfara State Government, traditional rulers, clerics among others, towards ensuring that the abductees are released unhurt.
“The Director General, who presented a detailed report with pictorial evidence of his visits on the incident to different stakeholders in Zamfara State to the lawmakers added that the Scheme places high priority on the security and welfare of all Corps Members.
“In his remarks, the Chairman, House Committee on Youth, Honourable Martin Esin lauded the Director General for honouring the Committee's invitation and also for his painstaking efforts in ensuring that the abducted Corps Members regains their freedom.
“Honourable Esin promised the Committee's support on every legislative matters that would enable the Scheme consolidate on its achievement in the post-jubilee era.
“The Chairman also commended the Director General for the Scheme's efforts towards re-opening the Borno State Orientation Camp for Corps Members after its long closure.”