The Kogi State Police Command has clarified reports surrounding the rescue of 11 persons following the abduction of 15 National Youth Service Corps, NYSC members and other travellers along the Aloma–Egane Expressway in Ofu Local Government Area.
The Command says the 11 persons earlier reported as rescued were not among the abducted Corps members.
The abduction of 15 NYSC members and other travellers along highway has sparked concern across Kogi State, particularly after reports emerged that 11 victims had been rescued during a joint security operation.
Seeking to clarify the situation, the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, Naziru Bello Kankarofi, said those rescued were other travellers caught up in the attack and were not the abducted Corps members.
Providing an update, the Commissioner told journalists in Lokoja that 6 of the 15 Corps members had so far been rescued as of Monday afternoon.
He said the victims were freed after security operatives engaged the suspected bandits in a gun battle in the forest.
According to him, joint security teams are continuing to comb the surrounding forests in search of the remaining victims.
The Police Commissioner appealed to residents to support security agencies with credible information, while disclosing that several suspects had been arrested in connection with the abduction.
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(Editor: Ken Eseni)
