Suspected gunmen have kidnapped eight graduates traveling to Sokoto for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp.
Eddy Megwa, the director of press at the NYSC headquarters, verified the occurrence on Tuesday.
According to Megwa, the abducted graduates were traveling to their designated orientation camp at night when their van was ambushed on the outskirts of Zamfara by gunmen.
The victims were reportedly traveling on an Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) bus from Uyo, Akwa Ibom’s capital, to Sokoto state for their one-year national service when the tragedy occurred.
Three of the passengers in the bus escaped while the remaining eight were seized by the gunmen.
Megwa said the director-general of the NYSC is in Zamfara to work with security agencies and secure their release.
“It happened on Saturday just before Gusau road in Zamfara,” the NYSC spokesperson said.
“Two days ago when the director-general heard about it, he relocated to Zamfara to work with the security agencies trying to secure their release.
“He’s also in touch with the families of the prospective corps members. We’re hoping that in no time, they would be released.
“The issue is that we have always been against night travel. It is risky and wrong.
“Their call-up letter specifically says that they should rest and continue the next day once it gets dark during their trips. Times are bad. Even we as officers stop our trips once it’s 6 pm.
“We feel so bad for what the corps members are going through. We assure the public that with the DG’s intervention, we will secure their release.”
Credit: The Cable
