No fewer than 15 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), have been kidnapped at Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
It was learnt that the corps members were abducted on Tuesday at a filling station in the state.
The corps members were said to have just completed their three-week orientation programme in Imo State, and were travelling to Lagos, when they were abducted.
“The gunmen hijacked their vehicle and diverted it to Isseke, Ihiala-Orlu expressway where they kept them (corps members) hostage,” a source said.
The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident in a statement, said the corps members have been released through the efforts of police operatives.
He said, “Anambra State Police Operatives, by 11:15 am today (Tuesday) 14/2/2023, responding to a distress call along Isseke, Ihiala road, rescued unhurt 15 abducted Corps members from NYSC Orientation Camp, Eziama-Obaire, Nkwerre, LGA, Imo State.
“Information reveals that the Corps members finished their three weeks of orientation program today (Tuesday) and were en route Lagos before their vehicle was intercepted at total junction Ihiala by yet-to-be-identified armed men in unmarked white Toyota Hilux.
“Their (corps members) vehicle was diverted to Isseke, Ihiala-Orlu expressway where the gunmen kept them hostage. The armed men, noticing they were being followed by Police Operatives, abandoned the corpers and zoomed off with the Toyota Hiace bus with Reg Nos: EPE 353 YE conveying the corpers.
“The corps members have been debriefed by police operatives and necessary arrangements have been perfected to convey them back to their destinations,” PPRO added.