Oyo govt expresses relief as abducted corps members regain freedom in Imo

The Oyo State Government has expressed relief over the release of corps members from the state who were abducted in Imo State, describing their freedom as a welcome development.

Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, stated this in a statement issued on Wednesday evening in Ibadan, the state capital, shortly after the report of the release of the 20 prospective corps members.

Mr Oyelade congratulated the Imo and Oyo state governments as well as the federal government on the successful release of the corps members after being held in captivity.

He, however, urged the federal government to intensify efforts to tackle the persistent challenge of kidnapping and banditry across the country.

According to him, the federal government, which has the greatest power and capacity to effectively address the insecurity crisis, must be more proactive and live up to its promise of making Nigerians safer.

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The commissioner said the release of the corps members was a development worthy of commendation, while stressing that more needed to be done to prevent similar incidents.

MR Oyelade urged relevant security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering and coordinated operations to rescue those still in captivity and prevent further abductions.

He reiterated the Oyo State government’s commitment to the safety and welfare of its citizens, particularly youths serving the nation under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that gunmen ‌‍⁠⁠⁠‍⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‍⁠⁠‌on, 1 October, abducted the 20 prospective corps members, travelling from Ibadan, on the Onitsha-Owerri expressway in Imo State.