10 NYSC Corp Members Rescued From Bandits in Kogi Forest

A daring multi-agency raid has freed ten National Youth Service Corps members from the dense Egume Forest in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, offering fresh hope to families still waiting for the safe return of five others.

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The young graduates were part of a larger group of 15 corps members seized last week while travelling from Abuja toward Bayelsa State. 

Their captors had reportedly reached out to relatives with demands of ₦20 million for each hostage.

Security operatives from the police, military, Department of State Services and supporting units moved in after days of careful intelligence work. 

The coordinated sweep into the forest ended with the successful extraction of the ten corps members.

In a statement released Monday, the Kogi State Police Command described the mission as a sustained, intelligence-led effort aimed at recovering the victims and dismantling the criminal network behind the abductions.

“We launched this operation with one clear goal: bring our young people home safely while rooting out the gangs terrorising the area,” said ASP Afusat Saliu, the Command’s Public Relations Officer. 

“The search continues at full strength. Our teams remain on the ground and will not rest until every missing corps member is accounted for.”

Commissioner of Police Naziru Bello Kankarofi praised the joint forces for their courage and discipline under pressure. He also thanked residents whose timely tips proved decisive.

“Community cooperation made the difference,” the Commissioner noted. “When people share credible information quickly, we can act faster and more precisely. That partnership is saving lives.”

Police officials urged the public to stay alert and report any unusual movement or tip that could help locate the remaining five victims. 

All available resources, they stressed, are being directed toward a complete rescue and the arrest of those responsible.

The successful recovery of the ten corps members marks a significant breakthrough in the ongoing effort to secure the safe return of all those abducted.