Eleven passengers, including National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members have been rescued after armed men abducted travellers along the Aloma–Egane Expressway in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The victims were travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja when the attackers emerged from the bush and intercepted two buses around the Ogene Zaria area, near the Ogene Zaria–Onicha-Igo Junction, on Wednesday.
The Kogi State Police Command confirmed the rescue on Friday, saying the victims were freed during a coordinated operation involving security personnel.
The command’s spokesperson, ASP Salisu Oyiza Afusat, said the Ofu Divisional Police Officer mobilized a joint security team after receiving a distress call about the attack.
According to her, security operatives recovered two abandoned vehicles at the scene — a white Hummer bus belonging to Peace Mass Transit and a yellow 18-seater bus.
She said the discovery prompted a wider search of the surrounding forest, leading to the rescue of the 11 passengers.
“Most of the rescued victims are NYSC members travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja,” Afusat said, adding that the drivers of both vehicles were also among those rescued.
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The police spokesperson said the victims were debriefed and allowed to continue their journey after the necessary procedures had been completed.
She added that security personnel were continuing operations in the surrounding forest to locate any other victims who may still be in captivity and arrest those responsible for the attack.
The command assured residents and travellers that security and intelligence resources were being deployed to the area to restore safety and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The police confirmation followed an emotional appeal by a woman who identified herself as the sister of one of the abducted corps members.
In a video circulated online, the woman said her sister had travelled to Bayelsa State for the mandatory three-week NYSC orientation programme and was returning to Abuja when the vehicle she was travelling in was attacked.
She appealed to the Federal Government, NYSC authorities and members of the public to assist in securing the safe return of those still in captivity.
The woman also said her family had recently lost their mother, adding that the abduction had compounded the family’s difficulties.
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