Troops and other security agencies have rescued 15 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted by suspected kidnappers in Kogi State Forest .
The victims were rescued from Egume Forest in Ofu Local Government Area of the state following a joint operation involving the military, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and other security and auxiliary forces.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed the development on Monday, saying the corps members were kidnapped last week while travelling from Abuja to Bayelsa State.
The abductors had reportedly contacted some of the victims’ families and demanded a ransom of N20 million for each corps member.
Confirming the rescue in a statement on Monday, the Kogi State Police Command said the operation was coordinated, sustained and intelligence-driven.
He said the operation was initiated to secure the safe recovery of the victims, dismantle criminal networks operating in the area and bring the perpetrators to justice.
He noted that security forces had intensified operations in the area while simultaneously tracking the kidnappers.
“The operation is still ongoing, with the potential to rescue all the kidnapped victims. Security forces have intensified operations within the area while simultaneously pursuing the perpetrators,”
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