BY NGOZI NWANKWO, ABUJA – The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Danjuma Ahmed has said there was no payment of ransom made to secure the release of eight Corps members who were kidnapped while travelling from Uyo in Akwa Ibom State to Sokoto State for national service.
Ahmed, who disclosed this at press briefing in Abuja at the weekend, said no state government or governor paid any money to secure the release of the Corps members as was being circulated in the news.
The NYSC DG expressed the Scheme’s commitment to prioritise the welfare and security of all Corps members and therefore warned them against travelling at night.
While explaining the efforts put in place to rescue the Corps members, Brigadier General Ahmed said, said the four Corps members were travelling from Uyo in Akwa Ibom when they were kidnapped on August 17, 2024 on Funtua-Bisau Road in Zamfara State.
According to Ahmed; “While in Zambara, we collaborated with the Army, Police, DSS and traditional rulers. We also had a meeting with the governor of Zambara State regarding the kidnapping of the prospective corps members.
“Consequently, through the combined efforts of the security agencies, especially the Nigerian army and the NYSC, the mission started yielding results with the rescue of the first set of prospective four members,” he said.
The freed Corps members include; Daniel Etim Bassey, Obong Victor Udofia, Sabbath Anyaewe Ikan, Abigail Peter Sandy, Glory Etukudo Thomas, Emmanuel Esudue, Victoria Bassey Udoka and Solomon Bassey Daniel.
