Fifteen members of the National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) have reportedly been abducted by gunmen in Kogi State while travelling to Abuja after completing their orientation programme in Bayelsa State.
The corps members, who are part of the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II, were reportedly attacked on Wednesday along the Ofu/Itobe–Onicha-Igo axis in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
They were said to be returning from the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State when the attackers intercepted two vehicles carrying the corps members.
A relative of one of the victims, who spoke to the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, said his brother, identified as Ayodele David, was among those abducted.
According to the relative, the victims were travelling in a Peace Mass Transit bus and another vehicle marked “564” when the gunmen attacked.
He said the family was later contacted by a police officer attached to the Kogi State Police Command, identified as Adeji Joshua, who provided details about the incident.
The source said the driver of the Peace Mass Transit bus was left behind by the attackers but sustained serious injuries during the incident.
He added that the driver reportedly said the attackers spoke Fulfulde, Hausa and English, although the identities or affiliations of the gunmen had not been established.
The relative further said 16 people were listed on one of the manifests, but one corps member was moved to another vehicle after the driver said the bus was full.
“From the explanation of the driver, who was badly injured, 15 passengers were kidnapped even though 16 people were listed on the manifest,” he said.