The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja, saying 11 victims have been rescued while a search operation continues for others still in captivity.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, along the Aloma–Egane Expressway in Ofu Local Government Area of the state.
The confirmation came after SaharaReporters reported that 15 NYSC members were reportedly abducted by armed bandits while returning to Abuja after completing their orientation programme in Bayelsa State.
In a statement issued in response to a press inquiry, the Police Public Relations Officer, Kogi State Command, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, said armed hoodlums emerged from the bush around Ogene Zaria, near the Ogene Zaria/Onicha-Igo Junction, at about 4:40pm.
According to the police, the assailants blocked two buses travelling in opposite directions and abducted some of the passengers, while others escaped into the surrounding bush.
“Upon receipt of the distress call, the Divisional Police Officer, Ofu, led a joint security team to the scene, where two abandoned vehicles – a Peace Mass Transit white Hummer bus and a yellow 18-seater bus – were recovered,” the statement said.
The command said a coordinated bush-combing and rescue operation was immediately launched following the attack.
It said the operation led to the rescue of 11 abducted victims, including the drivers of the two buses.
According to her, the rescued victims were subsequently debriefed and, after necessary procedures, allowed to continue their journey.
“Preliminary debriefing indicates that most of the rescued victims are NYSC members travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja,” the police said.
The command, however, said its operation was still ongoing in the surrounding forest to rescue the remaining victims and apprehend the attackers.
“The joint security operation remains ongoing in the surrounding forest with the primary objectives of rescuing the remaining victims, apprehending the perpetrators and bringing them to justice,” the statement added.
The development provides the first official confirmation of the attack after a relative of one of the victims had earlier raised the alarm over the abduction.
In a video seen by SaharaReporters, the relative had appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue her sister and other corps members.
She said her sister had attended the NYSC orientation camp in Bayelsa State and was posted to Niger State for her Place of Primary Assignment (PPA).
“My sister went to Bayelsa State for the NYSC camp. After the NYSC camp, she was posted.
“She was posted to Niger State. On her way coming back from Bayelsa State to Abuja, she was coming back to spend the day in Abuja. So the next day, she was going out of the house.
“She was going to Niger State to report for her PPA. On her way coming back, the kidnappers attacked her. The driver was killed.
“My sister and the rest of the corps members were taken to the bush. Up to now, we have not heard anything. The police are not giving us any positive feedback,” she said.
The relative also called on the NYSC, police, military and the Federal Government to intervene.
“NYSC should do something. The government should do something. The police force should do something. The Air Force should do something. They should do something,” she added.
The police command has now assured residents and travellers that all available operational and intelligence resources are being deployed to secure the area and locate the remaining victims.