5 Youth Corps Members Kidnapped

Five members of the National Youth Service Corps, four female and one male, were last night,  at about 11.30 pm, abducted by unknown gunmen at Corpers’ Lodge at Unuogha Community  Secondary school in Omuma Local Government area of Rivers State.

According eyewitness account, the gunmen who arrived in a Sports Utility Vehicle, stormed  the Corpers’ Lodge, shot sporadically into the air to scare people and abducted the corps  members.

They also made away with valuable belongings of the Corps members.

Immediately after the Corps members were abducted, the kidnappers put the Corps members on  phone to announce to their colleagues and relations that they are holding them.

At the time the operation was on, the Police were contacted and immediately mobilised to the  scene but only succeeded in pursuing them into the boundary between Abia and Rivers states.

The Rivers State Police image-maker, Mrs. Rita Innoma-Abbey confirmed the kidnap when  contacted and said that the Rivers Police command is working round the clock in conjunction  with the Abia Police Command to ensure the release of the victims unharmed.

In his reaction, Blessing Wikina, the Acting Chief Press Secretary to Governor Chibuike  Rotimi Amaechi, told PMNEWS that “it is very sad an unfortunate that at the time corps  members are serving their fatherland they could be kidnapped. The state Government calls on  the kidnappers to release them forthwith as they are of no pecuniary value.”

He also called on the police to ensure their release unharmed.”

On 10 August,this year, during a Town Hall Meeting with the people of Omuma Local  Government, the governor pledged to pay N1 million on each kidnapper arrested by the  villagers to stem the tide of kidnapping in the local government.

As a precautionary measure, P.M.NEWS learnt that the rest Corps members are being evacuated  from their lodge by the government.

—Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt