Tinubu Praises Security Forces After 15 NYSC Members and Six Others Escape Kogi Kidnappers’ Den

President Bola Tinubu has praised Nigeria’s security forces following the rescue of 21 abducted Nigerians, including 15 members of the National Youth Service Corps, from a forest in Kogi State — an operation that has once again reminded kidnappers that forests are not officially recognised as permanent residential estates. The victims, comprising eight males and 13 females, were rescued through a coordinated search-and-rescue operation involving the military, police, DSS and local vigilantes.

Tinubu Praise Security Forces That Turn Forest Into Emergency Exit Route

The rescued NYSC members were reportedly among passengers abducted last week while travelling from Abuja to Bayelsa State. Military authorities said the 21 victims were eventually recovered from the Egume-Ochaja forest stretch in Kogi, bringing considerable relief to families who had spent days waiting for good news.

Tinubu described the rescue as a source of relief and commended the security personnel involved. The President also said the victims were receiving medical attention before being reunited with their families. In the language of Nigerian security operations, the message was essentially simple: the people who entered the forest unwillingly have now been given their exit tickets.

Tinubu Says Kidnappers Still Have Questions to Answer

While celebrating the successful rescue, Tinubu made it clear that the operation is not considered complete merely because the victims are free. He said security forces remain on the trail of the fleeing criminals and that those responsible, including anyone who aided the crime, would face the full weight of the law.

The development comes amid continuing concerns over kidnapping and insecurity in parts of Nigeria. Recent reporting has highlighted the wider scale of the problem, including mass abductions and ransom-driven criminal activity, making successful rescue operations important but also underscoring the need for sustained security efforts.

For the rescued corps members and their families, however, the immediate headline is one of relief: 21 people who disappeared into captivity are back in freedom. Whether the rescuers can now turn the tables completely on the criminals remains the next chapter to watch. OGM News NG will continue following developments as authorities pursue those still at large.