Akwa Ibom Govt did not pay for release of 4 kidnapped corps members – NYSC

The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has cleared the air on reports making the rounds that the Akwa Ibom State Government and some concerned individuals paid for the release of the kidnapped prospective corps members.

About four of the prospective corps members, who were kidnapped in Zamfara on their way to the Orientation Camp in Sokoto State, were freed and reunited with their families last week.

The NYSC, in a statement signed by Eddy Megwa, its Director, Press and Public Relations, said no state government, individual or agency paid any amount for the release of the prospective corps members.

According to the statement, the release of the prospective corps members was primarily on the combined effort of security agents and the NYSC.

The statement noted that since the release of the prospective corps members, the NYSC has been shouldering the responsibility of their medical bills where they are recuperating.

The NYSC stressed that it is disassociating itself “from the claim that Akwa Ibom State Government or any other state Government paid money for their release”.

The NYSC made “an open call to the parents and family members of the kidnapped prospective corps members, Akwa Ibom, Zamfara state governments or anybody not to fall prey to the unscrupulous elements and fraudsters taking undue advantage of the situation to defraud unsuspecting members of the public by calling for donation towards the release of the kidnapped prospective corps members”.

“It is however impressive to note that so far the management of national Youth Service Corps and security agents have succeeded in securing the release of four (4) out of the eight (8) kidnapped prospective corps members without paying any amount of money and still working relentlessly towards securing the release of the remaining prospective corps members in the hands of the kidnappers.

“The NYSC said it is ever committed towards the welfare and security of the corps members and will continue to intensify synergy with security agencies towards the safety of the corps members,” the statement added.