Bandits Kidnap 15 NYSC Members In Kogi, Kill Driver

Fifteen National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members have reportedly been abducted by armed bandits in Kogi State while returning to Abuja after completing their orientation programme in Bayelsa State. The corps members were reportedly travelling from the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State towards the Federal Capital Territory when they were intercepted along the Ofu/Itobe–Onicha-Igo axis in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. A relative of one of the abducted corps members, who spoke with FIJ on Thursday, confirmed the incident, saying the victims were travelling to Abuja before they were attacked. The circumstances surrounding the attack, including the identities of all the abducted corps members, whether the abductors have demanded ransom and the precise location where the victims were taken, remained unclear as of the time of filing this report. The incident was also reported by Madu Ka, a member of the NYSC Online Community. When contacted the Kogi State Police Command for confirmation of the incident and details of the reported abduction. The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, did not respond to the enquiries sent to her regarding the incident. She only replied to the initial message, saying, “Thank you for contacting Office Of The Kogi State Police Command Public Relations Department! Please let us know how we can help you.” She subsequently failed to respond to specific questions and did not answer calls placed to her as of the time of filing this report. The reported abduction has renewed concerns over the safety of NYSC members travelling across the country, particularly corps members who are often required to travel long distances between orientation camps and their states of deployment.