15 NYSC members abducted after Bayelsa orientation camp as gunmen ambushed a Peace Mass Transit bus along the Ofu/Itobe–Onicha-Igo road in Kogi State on August 26, 2026, sparking fresh concerns over the safety of corps members traveling across Nigeria.
The 2026 Batch B Stream II corps members were returning from the National Youth Service Corps Permanent Orientation Camp in Kolokuma/Opokuma, Bayelsa State, when they were taken. The incident has left families desperate for answers and renewed concerns about security on major highways.
How The 15 NYSC Members Were Abducted
According to relatives and a Kogi State Police Command officer, the attack happened on Wednesday, August 26, along the Ofu/Itobe–Onicha-Igo axis in Ofu Local Government Area. The corps members were traveling in two vehicles — a Peace Mass Transit bus and a yellow Toyota bus marked ‘564’. They were heading towards Abuja after completing the three-week orientation exercise in Bayelsa.
Relatives said they were alerted that night by Adeji Joshua, a police officer who obtained next-of-kin contacts from the passenger manifest reportedly left at the scene.
“The incident occurred around Ofu Local Government Area, Kogi State, along the Ofu/Itobe–Onicha-Igo axis,” a family member told FIJ. “My brother, Ayodele David, and 14 other corps members were kidnapped from a Peace Mass Transit bus and another bus marked ‘564’.”
The driver of the Peace Mass bus was reportedly left behind with serious injuries. According to the driver, the abductors included people who spoke Fulfulde, Hausa and English before taking the victims into the bush.
Passengers in the second vehicle were reportedly allowed to leave because many were traveling with babies. Only four people from that vehicle were said to have been taken.
Ransom Demand As Families Seek Help
The abduction quickly spread online after passenger manifests containing names, including Ayodele David, circulated alongside photographs of the abandoned buses.
Families of the victims said they were left in panic as they waited for information about their loved ones.
The kidnappers have reportedly demanded N20 million for the release of the 15 corps members, although security agencies had not officially confirmed the ransom demand at press time.
On X, the hashtag #SOS trended as relatives and concerned Nigerians tagged @officialnyscng and security agencies, calling for urgent action.
One viral post read: “Corps members were kidnapped on their way from Bayelsa Camp to Abuja. @officialnyscng NYSC.”
The families said they remain “deeply worried about his safety, along with that of the other young Nigerians who have been taken.”
NYSC Silence Raises Fresh Questions
As of press time, NYSC management had not issued a detailed public statement on the August 26 abduction. The absence of an immediate detailed response has drawn criticism from people calling for the scheme to communicate with affected families and coordinate with security agencies.
The latest incident is not the first time corps members or prospective corps members have been targeted while traveling to or from orientation camps.
In January 2026, Lateefah Binuyo, a prospective corps member traveling to the NYSC orientation camp in Taraba State, was abducted in Kogi State. Her abductors reportedly demanded N30 million.
In 2023, NYSC Director-General Brig. Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed confirmed the release of prospective corps members who were kidnapped in Kogi while traveling to camp. He subsequently warned corps members against night travel and advised them to use only approved motor parks.
Data compiled by FIJ shows that 83 corps members have been abducted in the last 10 years, with 40 cases recorded in Rivers State alone.
Ofu-Itobe Road Remains A Major Concern
The Ofu/Itobe road has become a major concern for travelers because of reported kidnapping incidents along the route. The road connects parts of the South-East and South-South with Abuja and northern Nigeria, making it an important route for interstate bus travel.
The latest abduction also comes days after Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo hosted 1,490 corps members of the 2026 Batch B Stream II at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Asaya, Kabba-Bunu LGA.
During the visit, Ododo gave each corps member N20,000 and donated 50 bags of rice and a cow to the camp. The governor also assured the corps members of his administration’s commitment to their safety and welfare while serving in Kogi and appealed to host communities to provide a secure environment.
The abduction has since triggered anger online, with many questioning the safety of corps members traveling through known security flashpoints.
Calls For Stronger Protection
The latest incident has renewed calls for stronger measures to protect corps members on Nigerian highways.
In January, the Lagos State House of Assembly called for urgent intergovernmental action following another abduction involving a corps member. The lawmakers urged the NYSC Director-General to review deployment procedures and the posting of graduates to high-risk areas.
Speaker Mudashiru Obasa said: “At a time when many are unwilling to pursue education, it is painful that young Nigerians who have completed their studies and are eager to serve the nation are being exposed to threats such as kidnapping.”
The House resolved to liaise with the Kogi State Government and write to the Inspector-General of Police to seek intervention and help prevent similar incidents.
Security experts have also called for stronger highway patrols, better intelligence gathering and additional protection for groups of corps members traveling between states.
Rescue Efforts Underway For Abducted Corps Members
As of Thursday, rescue efforts were reportedly ongoing. The Kogi State Police Command confirmed it was aware of the incident and said it was working with other security agencies.
For the families, the priority remains bringing the 15 corps members home safely. “We just want our children back unhurt,” one relative said.
The NYSC has repeatedly advised corps members to avoid night journeys, travel from approved motor parks and ensure their details are captured on passenger manifests. However, the latest incident has renewed calls for those safety measures to be backed by stronger security along vulnerable routes.
For now, the 15 young Nigerians who had just completed their orientation remain in captivity, while their families and friends wait anxiously for news of their safe return.
