By Muhammad Sabiu
Reports coming from Zamfara State in north-western Nigeria have indicated that some prospective corps members have on Tuesday been kidnapped on their way to the NYSC orientation camp in the Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.
The incident has gripped tension among corps members at the orientation camp in the state despite the police appeal for calm, assuring that “a joint search and rescue operation is ongoing to ensure [the] safe rescue of Corp members along [with] other abducted victims.”
Police spokesperson, Muhammad Shehu confirmed the abduction in a statement made available to reporters.
Some reports have it that there are still other 6 corps members that are missing as of the time of filing this report.
Below is the statement from Zamfara Police spokesperson:
Report received by the Zamfara State Police Command from the State NYSC Coordinator indicated that, two (2) Prospective NYSC Corp Members deployed from Benue State to Kebbi and Sokoto States were among the victims of abduction along Tsafe – Gusau Road on Tuesday 19th October, 2021 at about 2230 hours.
The report was received early today when the Commissioner of Police, CP Ayuba N. Elkanah psc+ visited the Orientation Camp at Tsafe to assess the existing security emplacement at the orientation camp with a view to ensuring safety and security of the Corp Members.
It would be recalled that on 19th October, 2021, at about 2230 hours, a Vehicle with Reg. Number GBK 339 ZY was blocked by armed bandits while travelling from Benue to Sokoto State at near Wanzamai Village in Tsafe LGA. As a result, passengers whose identity (were) unknown, were abducted.
The Commissioner of Police while responding, informed the Coordinator that the Command has commenced investigation into the incident with a view to establishing the actual number of Corp Members involved in the abduction.
Similarly, a joint search and rescue operation is ongoing to ensure safe rescue of Corp members along other abducted victims.
The CP, in his address to the Prospective Corp Members, assures them of more Police commitment to safeguard their lives, and enjoins them to be security conscious of themselves.