Rivers: Kidnapped corps members regain freedom

Seven members of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) who were kidnapped on their way to Port Harcourt, Rivers State from the NYSC orientation camp in Ondo State have regained their freedom after spending one week in captivity.

A family member of one of the kidnapped corps members had reported to a popular radio station in Port Harcourt that 12 NYSC members were abducted by armed men last Tuesday along the Rumuji axis of the East-West Road, Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The source who did not disclose his name said during the incident, five of the corps members escaped in a rather courageous manner.

The Rivers State Police had confirmed the incident but was unable to give the actual number of passengers that were on the bus conveying the youths on national service.

But speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, a man who claimed his sister-in-law was among those kidnapped said the remaining abducted seven corps members have now breathed the air of freedom.

The man said they were freed at about 9 pm on Sunday evening around Choba in Obio/Akpor Local Government area after a ransom was paid.

He stated, “They were released on Sunday evening around 9. I saw seven of them that there released, two girls and five boys.

“According to one of the parents that came there that day, said they paid a ransom. They were in horrible condition. It was like they used mud in rubbing them and if you see their body, maybe they were bitten by mosquitoes or sand-fly in the bush.

“They went to report themselves at the police station where it happened and they took their statement and try to see if they can get their belongings.”

Spokesperson of the State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko during a telephone interview with our correspondent on Tuesday said the Commissioner of Police, Okon Effiong had ordered more deployment in a view to rescue the corps members and expressed optimism that the police was on top of the situation.

When contacted, the state police image maker confirmed the release of the corps members but said she was not aware of any ransom.

She stated, “I have just contacted the Rumuji Police Division. The corpers have been released. The command will make an official statement on that on Thursday.”