August 26, (THEWILL) – Nothing dramatises the daredevilry of kidnappers in the country as much as the news report that four National Youth Service Corps members literally served their mandatory one year service in their abductors’ den.
The victims are all indigenes of Akwa Ibom State: Daniel Etim Bassey (from Uruan LGA, a graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka); Obong Victor Udofia (from Ikono LGA, University of Uyo); Sabbath Anyaewe Ikan (from Eastern Obolo LGA, Akwa Ibom Polytechnic); Abigail Peter Sandy (from Abak LGA, Maurid Polytechnic); Glory Etukudo Thomas (from Eket LGA, Heritage Polytechnic); Emmanuel Esudue (from Urue Offong Oruko LGA); Victoria Bassey Udoka (from Ini LGA, University of Uyo); and Solomon Bassey Daniel (from Itu LGA, Akwa Ibom Polytechnic).
The eight corps members and their bus driver were abducted in August 2023 in Zamfara State on their way from Uyo, Akwa Ibom to Sokoto State for the three-week orientation course.
They were travelling in an Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) bus when they were ambushed.
Narrating how the eight prospective corps members, pcm, were released by their abductors, on Friday, August 23, 2024, the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Yushau Ahmed, said, “Although they were abducted at the same time, they were rescued in the following sequence:
“On Aug. 30, 2023, we rescued the first PCM, Esudue Emmanuel, while Victoria Udoka was rescued on Oct. 20, 2023. Then Abigail Sandy and Sabina Ika were rescued on Dec. 7, 2023. Also, Oyo-Obong Udofia was rescued along with the driver of the vehicle in February 3, 2024, Daniel Bassey on Feb. 8, while Glory Thomas regained freedom on June 9, 2024.
“Meanwhile, the last PCM, Solomon Bassey, was rescued on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2024.”
What a sequence, indeed. Our choice of words can tell a lot about a particular situation or challenge. In this case, the word ‘sequence,’ though a noun and a verb, is used in the latter sense by the NYSC DG. It means ‘to arrange in a particular order.’
Consequently, we make bold to say that there is no gainsaying the fact that the kidnappers knew their act and rehearsed it very well. It beggars belief that this well programmed and orchestrated abduction is the work of amateurs and that after holding their victims for one year in captivity, they released them with no ransom paid, as the NYSC DG claimed. If that is so, has kidnapping now become a charity or simply an indulgence engaged in to traumatise and harass Nigerians for the fun of it?
Which raises the question about the level of intelligence surrounding this incident. And the collateral damage the whole drama has caused the victims and their parents, who at a point in time, accused the authorities of abandoning them to their fate as the kidnappers made contact and demanded the sum of N4 million each for the release of the victims.
Overall, this incident paints an ugly face for the war against insecurity in the country. The security forces in the country have been doing a wonderful job detecting, attacking and destroying terrorists and their enclave. But such a well dramatised act involving the PCM can only go on to embolden kidnappers and encourage prospective ones.
It is on this note we urge the relevant authorities to launch an investigation into this incident with a view to unravelling the suspected plot behind it. Big schemes like the national youths’ service involving thousands of Nigerian youths annually has a far-reaching impact on the social, cultural and political life of the country and its future, which the youths are its dynamic heirs.
