Panic has gripped prospective corps members in Zamfara State as a result of the kidnapping of some of their colleagues on their way to their orientation camp in the state’s Tsafe Local Government Area.
Despite the fact that police confirmed the abduction of two potential corps members along the Sheme-Tsafe highway in the state on Tuesday, witnesses said about six others were missing.
In Zamfara, the Tsafe hosts a National Youth Service (NYSC) orientation camp.
The abducted corps members and other victims are being rescued as part of a joint search and rescue operation, according to the police.
In a statement, the state’s police spokesperson, Muhammad Shehu, said the state’s police commissioner, Ayuba Elkana, had visited the camp and assured NYSC officials of the safety of corps members there.
Below is the full statement from the police
Report received by the Zamfara State Police Command from the State NYSC Coordinator indicated that two (2) Prospective NYSC Corp Members deployed from Benue State to Kebbi and the Sokoto States were among the victims of abduction along Tsafe – Gusau Road on Tuesday 19th October 2021 at about 2230 hours.
The report was received early today when the Commissioner of Police, CP Ayuba N. Elkanah psc+ visited the Orientation Camp at Tsafe to assess the existing security emplacement at the orientation camp with a view to ensuring the safety and security of the Corp Members.
It would be recalled that on 19th October 2021, at about 2230 hours, a Vehicle with Reg. Number GBK 339 ZY was blocked by armed bandits while travelling from Benue to Sokoto State near Wanzamai Village in Tsafe LGA. As a result, passengers whose identity (were) unknown, were abducted.
The Commissioner of Police while responding, informed the Coordinator that the Command has commenced investigation into the incident with a view to establishing the actual number of Corp Members involved in the abduction.
Similarly, a joint search and rescue operation is ongoing to ensure the safe rescue of Corp members along with other abducted victims.
The CP, in his address to the Prospective Corp Members, assures them of more Police commitment to safeguarding their lives and enjoins them to be security conscious of themselves.
