By Ngozi Nwankwo
The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps,NYSC, Brigadier General Y Danjuma Ahmed has said there was no payment of ransom made to rescue all eight corp members who were kidnapped by unknown assailants on their way from Uyo in Akwa Ibom State to Sokoto State have been released.
Ahmed who disclosed this at weekend, in a press briefing in Abuja, said no state government or governor paid any money to secure their releases as it was being circulated in the news.
He reiterated the Scheme’s commitment to prioritise the welfare and security of all Corp Members and therefore warned them against travelling at night.
While explaining the efforts put in place to rescue the Corp Members, the Director General said, “you will remember when these four members were travelling from Uyo in Akwa Ibom to Sokoto.
“They were kidnapped on 17 August 2024 on Funtua Bisau Road in Zamfara State.
“While in Zambara, we collaborated with the Army, Police, DSS and traditional rulers.
“We also had a meeting with the governor of Zambara State regarding the kidnapping of the prospective corps members.
“Consequently, through the combined effort of the security agencies, especially the Nigerian army and the NYSC, the mission started yielding results with the rescue of the first set of prospective four members.”
The freed Corp Members were Daniel Etim Bassey, Obong Victor Udofia, Sabbath Anyaewe Ikan, Abigail Peter Sandy, Glory Etukudo Thomas, Emmanuel Esudue, Victoria Bassey Udoka and Solomon Bassey Daniel.