Gunmen Abduct 15 NYSC Members While Returning From Orientation Camp

Fifteen members of the *National Youth Service Corps, NYSC*, have been abducted by gunmen while travelling through *Kogi State* after completing their orientation programme in *Bayelsa State*.

The corps members, part of the *2026 Batch B Stream II* set, were returning from the *NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA, Bayelsa*, when attackers intercepted their vehicles along the *Ofu/Itobe–Onicha-Igo axis in Ofu LGA, Kogi* on *Wednesday*.

*How The Attack Happened*

The victims were travelling towards Abuja in a *Peace Mass Transit bus* and a second vehicle belonging to *Romchi Mass Transit Limited*, marked 564.

A police officer, *Adeji Joshua*, who contacted families using details from the passenger manifest, said the driver of the Peace Mass bus survived but sustained serious injuries.

“According to a police officer who contacted us later that night, the incident occurred around Ofu Local Government Area, Kogi State, along the Ofu/Itobe–Onicha-Igo axis,” a relative of one abducted corps member told the _Foundation for Investigative Journalism_.

According to Joshua, the driver reported that the attackers spoke *Fulfulde, Hausa and English*, though their identities remain unknown.

He said two buses were involved. Occupants of the second vehicle were largely allowed to leave because several passengers were travelling with babies, but *four people* from that bus were taken.

The Peace Mass bus had *16 passengers* on its manifest, but *15 were abducted*.

“From the explanation of the badly injured driver, fifteen passengers were kidnapped even though 16 people were listed on the manifest. For the last corps member, the driver told her the bus was full and transferred her to another vehicle,” Joshua said.

He added: “The rest of them in Peace Mass number 2826 were kidnapped. The driver was badly injured, and we had to rush him to the hospital immediately. But as of this morning, he is better now.”

A video reportedly recorded at the scene showed the attackers opened fire before taking the passengers away.

One of the victims was identified as *Ayodele David*. “My brother is among the affected corps members, and our family is deeply worried about his safety, along with that of the other young Nigerians who have been taken,” his relative said.

*NYSC, Transport Companies Yet To Respond*

The NYSC has yet to provide a detailed public account. Its Director of Information and Public Relations, *Caroline Embu*, said “Let me find out” when asked about the incident and whether the Bayelsa Coordinator, *Samuel Amaramiro Pepple*, had been contacted.

Attempts to reach Pepple were unsuccessful, and calls to Peace Mass Transit’s emergency lines also did not go through.

*Wider Security Concerns*

The incident highlights the security risks faced by corps members who travel long distances between orientation camps, places of deployment and primary assignment.

In *March 2026*, the family of another abducted corps member, *Abba*, said they feared he had been killed after his abductors stopped communicating despite receiving a *N10 million ransom*. The kidnappers had allegedly demanded motorcycles after the payment before cutting off contact.

The family later held a funeral prayer in absentia while hoping he was still alive.