Rivers: Corp members regain freedom after days in captivity

No less than seven members of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) who were kidnapped on their way to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, from the NYSC orientation camp in Ondo State have regained freedom from their captors.

Recall that the imcident was brought to light by a family member of one of the kidnapped corps members, who had reported to a popular radio station in Port Harcourt that 12 NYSC members were abducted by armed men along the Rumuji axis of the East-West Road in Emuoha Local Government Area of the state, last Tuesday.

The Rivers State Police had confirmed the incident and noted that plans were in place to ensure the release of the abductees.

However, speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, a man, who claimed his sister-in-law was among those kidnapped, said the seven abducted corps members including two women and five men, have been released after a ransom was paid.

According to the man, they were freed at about 9pm on Sunday evening around Choba in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

“They were released on Sunday evening around 9.30pm. I saw seven of them that were released; two girls and five boys.

“One of the parents that came there that day confirmed that they paid a ransom. They were in horrible condition. It was like they used mud in robbing them and if you see their bodies, maybe they were bitten by mosquitoes or sand-fly in the bush.

“They went to report themselves at the police station and they took their statement while trying to see if they could get their belongings.”

When contacted, the state police spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the release of the corps members.