TheCable

Suspected gunmen have abducted eight graduates travelling to Sokoto for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp. 

Eddy Megwa, the director of press at the NYSC headquarters, confirmed the incident to TheCable on Tuesday.

Megwa said the abducted graduates were travelling at night to their designated orientation camp when the gunmen waylaid their vehicle on the outskirts of Zamfara.

According to reports, the victims were travelling in an Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) bus from Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom to Sokoto state for their one-year national service when the incident happened.

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 told TheCable.

“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 6pm.

“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.”