By Belove Olocha
Bandits who abducted four members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have demanded N2 million each as ransom to secure their release.
The four NYSC members: Sedoo Gundu, Sechivir, Joseph Zaaka, Jennifer Awashima, all boarded the same bus from Makurdi, the Benue State capital, and were heading to Kebbi State when their bus was ambushed in Zamfara.
It was learnt that eight passengers in total were on the bus when the armed men stopped them. The driver and four others escaped, leaving the four corps members who were immediately abducted.
The abductors have since contacted the elder sister of one of the victims, Sember Lorliam, demanding N2 million each for the release of the victims.
The incident comes just as the NYSC has been embroiled in controversy over its purported advice in its handbook to corps members entitled: “Security Awareness and Education”, in which it stated that any corps member abducted should prepare ransom.
Although the NYSC has vehemently denied the said publication and advise stated therein, this latest incident has led to the controversial page of the handbook resurfacing on the internet
Nigerians have gone online to react to the abduction of the corps members, saying that the NYSC posted them to these security-deprived states and should be accountable for their total welfare and security.
The NYSC is, however, yet to respond to the ransom demand as of the time of filing this report.
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