The Nigerian Army in collaboration with the Nigeria Police have rescued two National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), members, kidnapped by bandits in Yargoje community, Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, made this known in a statement on Friday, November 3, 2023, in Abuja.
General Nwachukwu said the courageous effort of the security forces led to the rescue and safe return of the abductees on Thursday.
He said that the criminals abducted the corps members while they were on transit from Edo to Katsina State.
According to him, the joint effort of the 17 Brigade Nigerian Army and the police resulted in the successful rescue of the victims from their captors.
“The rescued corps members have been given necessary medical attention and support to ensure their physical and emotional well-being.
“They are currently in the custody of the Nigerian Police in Kankara.
“The Nigerian Army continues to solicit the cooperation and support of the public in providing timely and relevant information to enhance troops’ proactive operational engagement of criminal elements,” he said.
In a related development, Rev. Fr. Samson Emokhidi, a priest of the Archdiocese of Abuja, has been declared missing.
According to a statement released by the Chancery, Samson was last seen leaving his residence at 8:45 pm on Sunday, October 1, 2023.
The statement signed by Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Fr Sam Tumba, said there had been no communication or sign of the priest since his disappearance.
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The Archbishop and the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese called on the entire Archdiocesan family to remember Fr. Samson in their prayers.
They urged anyone with information regarding his whereabouts to contact the Chancery.
“This is to inform the entire Archdiocese family about our brother and Priest Rev. Fr. Samson Emokhidi, who left the house on Sunday 1st October, 2023 at about 20.45pm.”
“He left without any trace and has not been seen or heard from since then. The Archbishop and the Auxiliary Bishop request that we remember him in our prayers and if anyone has useful information regarding his whereabouts to kindly contact the Chancery.
“Thanking you in anticipation of your cooperation in this sensitive matter. Praying God to bless you and your work,” the letter read in part.
Tumba said the matter had since been reported to the “civil authorities” who have initiated investigations into his whereabouts
But when contacted on Friday morning, Josephine Adeh, Police Public Relations Officer of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said she was not aware of the matter.
“I am not aware of the matter,” she simply said.
