Fifteen members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have been kidnapped by armed bandits in Kogi State while travelling to Abuja after completing their orientation programme in Bayelsa State.

The corps members were reportedly abducted on Wednesday, August 26, along the Ofu/Itobe–Onicha-Igo axis in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The victims were travelling from the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State towards Abuja when the attackers reportedly intercepted their vehicle.

A relative of one of the abducted corps members confirmed the incident and appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure their release.

According to the relative, her sister had completed the NYSC orientation programme in Bayelsa State and was deployed to Niger State for her Place of Primary Assignment (PPA). She was travelling to Abuja before proceeding to Niger State when the incident occurred.

The relative said the corps members were taken into the bush and that the family had yet to receive information on their whereabouts.

She also said the police informed the family about the incident and indicated that efforts involving the security agencies were ongoing.

“Up till now, we have not heard anything. They keep on telling us that the Air Force is working,” she said.

The woman appealed to the NYSC, police, military and Federal Government to intensify efforts to locate and rescue the victims.

“Nothing should happen to my sister. Nothing should happen to her,” she pleaded.

There have been conflicting reports about the fate of the driver of the vehicle. While an earlier account alleged that the driver was killed during the attack, the claim has reportedly been disputed. The driver's death could not be independently confirmed at the time of filing this report.

The identities of all 15 abducted corps members, their current location and whether the kidnappers have demanded a ransom were not immediately known.

The Kogi State Police Command had not publicly provided further details on the incident at the time of filing this report.

The confirmed abduction has renewed concerns about the safety of NYSC members travelling between orientation camps and their states of deployment.