Gunmen believed to be bandits, who abducted more than eight National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, have requested a ransom of four million Naira for their release.

The incident occurred when the young individuals were traveling on an Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) bus from Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, to Sokoto State to participate in the mandatory National Service.

The bandits attacked the bus along a highway within Zamfara State.

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The father of one of the abducted victims, Emmanuel Eket, revealed that the bandits used his daughter’s phone to inform him of the abduction and demanded the ransom.

Despite receiving updates on the situation from his daughter, he has not heard from her since.

While the Zamfara State Police Command has not officially commented on the abduction, an anonymous military source confirmed the incident.

The military is reportedly conducting a rescue operation to safely retrieve the kidnapped victims from the forest.