Gunmen have abducted some members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who were on their way to Port Harcourt, Rivers state after passing out from Orientation Camp in Ondo state.
Reportedly, the victims whose numbers are yet to be ascertained were kidnapped at about 9:00 pm Tuesday, May 16, 2023. An eyewitness whose sister-in-law was among the kidnapped corps called into a Port Harcourt based radio station on Wednesday morning to confirm the incident.
He said the Corps members were abducted along the Rumuji axis of the East-West Road in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State. He said five of the corps members were able to escape and reported at the Rumuji Divisional Police Station.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of the corps members. The Spokesperson of the command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko said that some of the corps members have been rescued while efforts are on to rescue the remaining corps members.
As of now, the exact number of individuals who were rescued and the total number of persons kidnapped have not been disclosed by the police spokesperson.
This incident occurred just hours after Dr. Chidi Lloyd, the chairman of Emohua local government area, publicly offered a bounty of N1 million for the capture of 22-year-old Onuigwe Wodi. Wodi is wanted for his alleged involvement in the heinous crimes of murdering policemen, engaging in cult activities, kidnapping, and armed robbery along the East-West Road.
In response to the escalating crime rates in the area, Lloyd also declared the suspension of salary payments for members of the Emohua Vigilante Service (EMOVIS), as they have been unable to effectively combat the surge in criminal activities within the local government area.
Source ; IntelRegion