Seven corps members kidnapped in Rivers freed
Seven members of the National Youths Service Corps 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.
Recall that 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 in 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 in the bus conveying the youths on national service.
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But speaking to newsmen 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 9pm on Sunday evening around Choba in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area after a ransom.
He stated, “They were released on Sunday evening around 9.30pm. I saw seven of them that were released; two girls and five boys.
“One of the parents that came there that day confirmed that they paid a ransom. They were in horrible condition.
It was like they used mud in robbing them and if you see their bodies, maybe they were bitten by mosquitoes or sand-fly in the bush.
“They went to report themselves at the police station and they took their statement while trying to see if they could get their belongings.”
When contacted, the state police image maker, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the release of the corpps members, but said she was not aware of any ransom.
She stated,”I have just contacted the Rumuji Police Division. They corpers have been released. The command will make an official statement on that on Thursday.”
