Relief and immense joy have swept across the nation following the successful rescue of 15 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and six other citizens who were abducted by armed criminals in Kogi State.
Tripod Times reports that President Bola Tinubu personally confirmed the liberation of all 21 hostages on Monday afternoon, August 31, 2026.
The victims—comprising 13 females and 8 males—were intercepted last Wednesday, August 26, along the Ofu–Itobe–Onicha-Igo axis in Kogi State. They were traveling from the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Bayelsa State to Abuja when they were ambushed.
A Coordinated Rescue OperationThe breakthroughs came via a well-coordinated Search and Rescue (SAR) operation. A combined forces team composed of the Nigerian Military, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and local vigilantes successfully tracked the abductors into the dense forests of Ofu Local Government Area.
President Tinubu praised the rapid intervention of the security agencies on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, writing: “The well-coordinated Search and Rescue operation carried out by a combined team safely rescued all twenty-one abductees… from the den of kidnappers.” He further directed law enforcement to hunt down the fleeing perpetrators and ensure they face immediate justice.
The news brought immediate closure to days of grueling trauma for families of the corps members. Social media handles reported that parents who had spent sleepless nights crying and praying reacted with deep gratitude to God and the security forces.
While a few viral video testimonies by victims recounted harrowing details of the initial multimillion-naira ransom demands, the prompt and robust armed response ensured all remaining hostages were freed alive.
According to an official statement by the presidency and verified by the Tripod Times, all 21 individuals are currently undergoing thorough medical examinations and receiving psychological support at a government facility.
The authorities have assured the public that they will be safely reunited with their respective families as soon as they are declared physically and mentally fit by doctors.
