A distraught woman has cried out for help after her sister, a National Youth Service Corps member, was abducted by gunmen in Kogi State, pleading with the Federal Government and security agencies to bring her back alive.
The woman, identified as Chidinma, said her family was already battling the pain of losing their mother a few months ago and could not withstand another tragedy.
“My sister was taken away on Wednesday and other corps members. They are not doing anything. They keep telling us that they are on it.
“Those children are in the forest suffering, the kidnappers kept asking for what we cannot afford. Government should take this matter up because those children are still government property,” she said in an emotional appeal shared on her Instagram Story on Saturday.
Chidinma also disputed reports that some of the abducted corps members had been rescued, insisting that her sister remained missing.
“I heard some bloggers said they rescued some. They did not rescue anybody. My sister will not go like that, we just lost our mum few months back, and now my sister. Nigerians should come to our rescue,” she said.
‘THE DRIVER WAS KILLED’
According to Chidinma, her sister had travelled to Bayelsa State for the mandatory three-week NYSC orientation camp before she was posted to Niger State for her Place of Primary Assignment.
She said the corps member was returning to Abuja from Bayelsa, intending to spend a night in the Federal Capital Territory before proceeding to Niger State, when the vehicle conveying her and other corps members was attacked.
“She went to Bayelsa for her three-week camp. After the camp she was posted to Niger. On her way coming back from Bayelsa to Abuja, she was coming back to spend the day in Abuja.
“So the next day when she’s done with all the hosting, she’ll go to Niger State to report for her PPA. On her way coming back, kidnappers attacked her. The driver was killed.
“My sister and the rest of the corps members were taken to the bush. Up till now, we have not heard anything. The police are not giving us any positive feedback,” she said.
She appealed to Nigerians, the Federal Government, security agencies and the United Nations to intervene and ensure the safe return of the victims.
“I’m begging Nigerians, I’m begging the government, I’m begging the United Nations to do something. Nothing should happen to them. Nothing should happen to my sister,” she pleaded.
Chidinma also criticised the NYSC for what she described as inadequate communication with the victims’ families over rescue efforts.
“I don’t want to lose my sister. I don’t want Nigeria to happen to me.
“I don’t want Nigeria to happen to my family. NYSC should do something. The government should do something.
“The police force should do something. The Air Force should do something. They should do something.”
POLICE CONFIRM KIDNAP, RESCUE 11
The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the abduction, but said security operatives had rescued 11 victims, including the drivers of the two buses involved in the attack.
The victims were abducted last Wednesday along the Aloma–Egane Expressway in Ofu Local Government Area after armed men reportedly emerged from the bush and blocked two buses travelling in opposite directions.
Police said the Divisional Police Officer in Ofu mobilised a joint security team after receiving a distress call.
Two abandoned vehicles—a Peace Mass Transit white Hummer bus and a yellow 18-seater bus—were recovered at the scene before the security personnel launched a coordinated search operation in the surrounding bush.
Police spokesperson, ASP Salisu Oyiza Afusat, said the attackers struck around Ogene Zaria, near the Ogene Zaria/Onicha-Igo Junction, forcing some passengers into the bush while others escaped.
She said the ensuing operation led to the rescue of 11 victims.
“Preliminary debriefing indicates that most of the rescued victims are NYSC members travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja,” Afusat said.
The rescued victims were subsequently debriefed and allowed to continue their journeys after necessary procedures were completed.
The police said the operation was still ongoing, with security personnel combing the surrounding forests for any remaining victims and the kidnappers.
The command assured the public that its operational and intelligence resources were being deployed to secure the area and ensure the safe recovery of the remaining victims.
