Army, Police, DSS Comb Forests in Search for 20 Abducted NYSC Members
The Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies have intensified coordinated search-and-rescue operations for 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted along the Owerri–Onitsha Road in Imo State.
The prospective corps members were reportedly kidnapped around Umunoha on October 1, prompting security agencies to launch intelligence-led operations aimed at locating the victims and apprehending their abductors.
Security sources disclosed that troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade, working with personnel of the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Police, DSS, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and local vigilantes, commenced an offensive operation in Amakohia Forest at about 5:30 a.m. on Saturday.
The operation followed intelligence gathered by the security agencies during efforts to trace the kidnappers and determine their likely hideouts.
According to the sources, the abductors had contacted the families of seven of the victims using telephone numbers belonging to the kidnapped prospective corps members and demanded a ransom of N50 million for each victim.
The DSS reportedly geolocated the telephone numbers used in the ransom calls, providing critical intelligence to support efforts to track the kidnappers and locate the abductees.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Shehu Umar Nadada, to Imo State to provide operational leadership for the rescue mission.
Read Also:
Nadada arrived in the state with two commissioners of police and conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the incident and the ongoing search-and-rescue operations by the Imo State Police Command.
The assessment involved the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Audu Garba Bosso; Commissioner of Police, Federal Operations, CP Akpan Anifiok; the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force, as well as other service commanders and members of the command’s management team.
The police delegation reviewed operational strategies, personnel deployment and available assets, while issuing additional directives to strengthen the joint response to the abduction.
The Police said tactical teams and operational assets had been deployed to identified locations, with intelligence-led tracking operations being intensified in collaboration with other security agencies.
DIG Nadada assured the public that the Police would sustain the operation until the abducted prospective corps members were safely rescued and their abductors apprehended.
He urged residents to remain calm and vigilant, while appealing to anyone with credible information capable of assisting the operation to contact the Police or the nearest security formation.
According to him, information provided to the authorities would be treated with confidentiality.
As of the time of filing this report, the joint operation was still ongoing, with the security agencies yet to announce the rescue of the 20 abducted prospective corps members.
Authorities also cautioned the public against circulating unverified information that could compromise the ongoing rescue efforts or endanger the victims and personnel involved in the operation.
By PRNigeria
