Eight graduates kidnapped in Zamfara State last year on 17th August 2023 on their way from Akwa Ibom State to Sokoto State to participate in the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, programme have been released.
The news came even as 20 Catholic medical students kidnapped in Benue State on 15th August this year have, also, been rescued in a multi-forces operation coordinated by the office of the National Security Adviser.
The Director-General of NYSC, YD Ahmed, who broke the news of the rescued Sokoto-bound graduates to the Press on Friday, also, warned “youth corpers” against travelling at night and that their welfare and security would continue to be the priority of the scheme.
He said: “You will remember when these corps members were travelling from Uyo in Akwa Ibom to Sokoto,” he started. “They were kidnapped on August 17, 2023 on Funtua Bisau Road in Zamfara State.
“While in Zamfara, we collaborated with the Army, Police, DSS and traditional rulers.
“We also had a meeting with the governor of Zambara State regarding the kidnapping of the prospective corps members.
“Consequently, through the combined effort of the security agencies, especially the Nigerian Army and the NYSC, the mission started yielding results with the rescue of the first set of prospective four members.”
The victims are Daniel Etim Bassey (from Uruan LGA, graduate of University of Nigeria, Nsukka); Uyo, Obong Victor Udofia (Ikono LGA, University of Uyo); Sabbath Anyaewe Ikan (Eastern Obolo LGA, Akwa Ibom Polytechnic); Abigail Peter Sandy (Abak LGA, Maurid Polytechnic); Glory Etukudo Thomas (Eket LGA, Heritage Polytechnic); Emmanuel Esudue (Urue Offong Oruko LGA); Victoria Bassey Udoka (Ini LGA, University of Uyo); Solomon Bassey Daniel (Itu LGA, Akwa Ibom Polytechnic);
They were travelling in an Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) bus when they were ambushed.
They were later released in batches, with the last one regaining freedom this week.
The police, Department of State Services (DSS) and military personnel were involved in the Benue operation of the rescued Catholic Church medical students, reportedly with the backing of the state government.
Travelling in a convoy of two buses last week, the students from the University of Jos and the University of Maiduguri were kidnapped on their way to the annual convention of the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) in Enugu State.
The entire country was thrown into panic last week when the students from the University of Jos and the University of Maiduguri were kidnapped on their way to the annual convention of the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) in Enugu State.
They were passing through the Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue before they ran into the ambush by bandits on Thursday at about 5:30 pm.
Subsequently, their captors established contact with the victims’ families, demanding a ransom of ₦50 million.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, immediately ordered officers to launch the rescue of the victims.
Egbetokun described their abduction as “truly appalling, callous, and unacceptable”.
His statement from the police headquarters in Abuja said, “In a display of unwavering commitment to the rescue, safety, and well-being of the young Nigerians, the IGP has ordered the prompt deployment of a substantial number of human and technical resources to augment the manpower of the Benue State Command and ensure the swift rescue of our beloved students. This initiative encompasses the mobilization of additional tactical units from the FID-STS and FID-IRT, the deployment of advanced helicopters and drones, as well as the use of specialized tactical vehicles to facilitate the search and secure the safe return of the victims.
“The Nigeria Police Force stands with the victims and their loved ones during this challenging time, and we are committed to ensuring the safe return of the students.”
The Director-General of the Corps said the victims would be issued discharge certificates.
Ahmed said after all they had gone through in the hands of their captors, they could no longer be mobilised for service.
He said, “On the 30th of August, 2023, we rescued the first prospective corps member, Emmanuel Emmanuel Esudue; Victoria Bassey Udoka was rescued on the 20th of October, 2023. Abigail Peter Sandy was rescued on the 7th of December, 2023. Sabbath Anyaewe Ikan was equally rescued on the 7th of December, 2023.
“Obong Victor Udofia was rescued on the 3rd of February, 2024. Daniel Bassey was rescued on the 8th of February, 2024. Glory Etukudu Thomas was rescued on the 9th of June, 2024. Yesterday, 22nd August, we rescued the last victim, Solomon Daniel Bassey.”
He claimed that no ransom was paid to rescue the corps members, noting that there were rescued through the efforts of the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Nigerian Army.
“No state government brought any amount for their rescue as claimed in the media. I must state that I have not received one naira from any state government so far in the name of the rescue of these co-members. No group of people or organization aided the rescue of the prospective corps members apart from the security agencies, particularly the army and the DSS,” he said.
According to Ahmed, the Corps members were transferred from one kidnappers camps to the other, hence, they were not rescued from one place.
He said so far, no arrest had been made, but the gang leader who organized the kidnap has been killed.
