15 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members have reportedly been abducted by gunmen in the Ofu/Itobe–Onicha-Igo axis of Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
A relative of one of the victims, who spoke with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), said the corps members were abducted on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 while travelling from the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State to Abuja.
The victims were members of the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II and had reportedly concluded their orientation camp activities before beginning their journey.
According to the relative, identified as a family member of one of the abducted corps members, the youths were travelling in two buses when they were attacked.
He told FIJ that his brother, Ayodele David, was among the abducted corps members.
A police officer, Adeji Joshua, who contacted some of the families, reportedly said the incident occurred along the Ofu/Itobe–Onicha-Igo axis.
A relative said the victims included passengers travelling in a Peace Mass Transit bus and another bus marked 564.
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,” he told FIJ.
The source said the driver of the Peace Mass Transit bus was left behind after sustaining injuries during the attack.
He said the abductors reportedly spoke Fulfulde, Hausa and English, although the victims’ relatives could not independently establish their identities.
According to him, 16 people were listed on one of the manifests, but one corps member was transferred to another vehicle after the driver said the bus was full.
From the explanation of the driver, who was badly injured, 15 passengers were kidnapped even though 16 people were listed on the manifest,” he said.
The driver was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment, the source said.
A video from the scene reportedly showed the attackers shooting at the vehicles before abducting the passengers.
