Security intensifies effort to release 5 kidnapped corps members

 By Jimitota Onoyume

Port Harcourt-Security operatives in Rivers State have intensified effort to  secure the release of  five corps members allegedly kidnapped at Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.

A source in the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, who spoke to Vanguard on the issue, said the corps members were on their way from a school in Omademe community in  the council, where they had gone  to inspect a library project they donated to the school as part of their community development service when they were abducted.

According to the source, the corps members were driving in their colleague’s car, when the incident occured.  He said those kidnapped were four females and a male. The source added that there had been no clue at press time on their whereabout.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ben Ugwuegbulam, confirmed the abduction, adding  that the police was on top of the situation.

This is not the first time corps members would be kidnapped in the state.

It will be recalled that a similar incident occured last year. It took the intervention of the army and other security forces to secure the release of the five corps members, who  were taken hostage and then moved to a community in Abia State by the kidnappers.

Meanwhile, some unknown gunmen, yesterday, opened fire on another police patrol team on Aba Road.
It was not clear whether any of the policemen died but eye witnesses told  Vanguard that some of the policemen were rushed to an unknown destination, apparently to a nearby hospital.

When Vanguard called the state Police Public Relations Officer for comment on the development, his phone rang out several times.