By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Fifteen members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Tuesday escaped the cold clutches kidnappers as they escaped their den by sheer stroke of luck.

It was gathered that the corps members, who had completed their three-week orientation programme in Imo State were travelling to Lagos when they were abducted by the hoodlums at a filling station in Ihiala, a town located within Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Their vehicle was said to have been diverted to Isseke, Ihiala-Orlu expressway where the gunmen kept them hostage.

It was also learnt that when the bandits noticed that they were being trailed by police operatives, they abandoned their hostages and zoomed off.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the corps members had been rescued, unhurt.

He said: “Anambra State Police Operatives, by 11:15 am today (Tuesday) 14/2/2023 responding to a distress call along Isseke, Ihiala road, rescued unhurt 15 abducted Corps members from NYSC Orientation Camp Eziama-Obaire, Nkwerre, LGA, Imo State.

“Information reveals that the Corps members finished their three weeks of orientation programs today (Tuesday) and were en route to Lagos before their vehicle was intercepted at total junction Ihiala by yet-to-be-unidentified armed men in unmarked white Toyota Hilux.

“Their (corps members’) vehicle was diverted to Isseke, Ihiala-Orlu expressway where the gunmen kept them hostage. The armed men noticed they are being followed by Police Operatives abandoned the corpers and zoomed off with the Toyota Hiace bus with Reg Nos: EPE 353 YE conveying the corpers.”

Ikenga added that the corps members had been debriefed by police operatives and necessary arrangements had been perfected to convey them back to their destinations, even as he assured further statement on the incident.