The Nigeria Army on Thursday handed over a corps member kidnapped by gunmen along Wukari-Jalingo Road to the authorities of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
NYSC state Coordinator in Taraba state, David Markson, confirmed the handing over to journalists in Jalingo.
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He said a corps member, Okoye John, serving in Benue state was kidnapped on March 4 at about 8.30 pm when the vehicle he was travelling in from Ukum in Benue state to Jalingo ran into a check -point mounted by the gunmen.
Markson said the corps member was blindfolded and taking into the bush on a motorcycle from where the kidnappers established contact with his father whom they requested to pay N5 million as ransom to secure his release.
Okoye, who narrated his ordeal in the hands of the kidnappers, said he was denied food for several days and was beaten mercilessly by his abductors who stripped him of his NYSC uniform and left him naked for days.
“On the March 4, I was travelling from Ukum to Jalingo after getting clearance to go for medical treatment because I am highly asthmatic. At about 8.30 pm, our vehicle ran into a supposedly police check- point mounted by gunmen.
“We were flagged down and everybody in the vehicle was ordered to come down from the vehicle and forced to lie down on the road. They collected all our money including my own N22, 000 before they eventually blindfolded me and dragged me into the bush,” he said.
Speaking to journalists after taken custody of Okoye from the army authorities, the NYSC Coordinator, Markson warned corps members to avoid night travels and be very conscious of their security.
He thanked the Nigerian Army for a job well done by ensuring the rescue of Okoye, saying the NYSC would continue to collaborate with the army wherever necessary to enable them do more for the society.
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