Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF), North East Operation Hadin Kai, have rescued 74 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members from a potential abduction by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists along the Buratai–Kamuya road in Borno State.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Media Information Officer of the JTF, Sani Uba, the rescue operation took place around 9:05 p.m. on Tuesday after the corps members’ vehicles broke down near a known kidnapping hotspot.
“A military patrol team was swiftly deployed to the scene after a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system monitored by troops detected suspicious movement involving three buses at the location,” the statement read.
Upon arrival, troops found 36 male and 38 female corps members stranded after their vehicles developed mechanical faults. They were immediately evacuated to safety, preventing what could have been a major abduction attempt.
“The rescued NYSC members are currently being accommodated at the Buratai military base pending further arrangements for their safe movement,” the JTF added, commending the troops’ vigilance and rapid response.
The incident has drawn attention to the increasing security risks faced by corps members traveling across volatile regions of the North. It comes over a year after eight corps members were abducted by suspected terrorists in Zamfara State on their way to camp in August 2023, an attack that sparked nationwide outrage and calls for tighter security measures.
The Army reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of all citizens, particularly youth corps members serving in the region, and urged transporters and travelers to promptly report suspicious movements to security agencies.