NYSC
Gunmen have abducted 15 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who were travelling from the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State toward Abuja. The incident occurred on Wednesday along the Ofu/Itobe–Onicha-Igo axis in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The victims, members of the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II who had just completed their orientation exercises, were travelling in a Peace Mass Transit bus (reported as number 2826) and another vehicle marked ‘564’ (described as a yellow Toyota bus).
A relative of one of the abducted corps members, Ayodele David, told the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) that the family was alerted by Adeji Joshua, a police officer with the Kogi State Police Command. The officer obtained next-of-kin contacts from a passengers’ manifest left at the scene.
According to Joshua, the driver of the Peace Mass Transit bus was left behind but sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital; he was reported to be recovering as of Thursday. The police officer stated that 15 passengers were taken from the main bus (despite 16 names on the manifest), with one corps member transferred to another vehicle because the bus was full. Passengers from a second bus—many of whom had babies—were largely allowed to go, though about four people were taken from that vehicle. A video from the scene reportedly shows the abductors firing shots before taking the victims.
The kidnappers were described as speaking a mix of Fulfulde, Hausa, and English. Authorities had begun contacting the families of those affected. Efforts by FIJ to reach Peace Mass Transit via published emergency and customer service numbers were unsuccessful. NYSC’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, and the Bayelsa State coordinator were contacted for comment but provided no immediate substantive response.
The abduction adds to ongoing security challenges along routes in Kogi State, particularly in Ofu LGA, which has seen multiple highway attacks and kidnappings in recent weeks and months. Families of the missing corps members expressed deep concern for their safety. Security agencies are expected to intensify search-and-rescue efforts, though no official updates on the victims’ status or any arrests were immediately available as of the latest reports on August 27–28, 2026.
This is a developing story. Officials from the Kogi State Police Command, NYSC, and relevant security agencies have not issued a comprehensive public statement at the time of writing. Families and authorities continue to seek the safe return of the 15 young Nigerians.
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