Four Arrested Over Disappearance of Corps Member in Rivers State

NYSC officials have so far declined to comment on the incident, with Christian Onuoha, Public Relations Officer for the NYSC in Rivers State, remaining silent on the matter.

Port Harcourt, Nigeria – The Rivers State Police Command has arrested four suspects in connection with the disappearance of Yahya Faruq, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, who has been missing for over a week.

Faruq, who was serving in Ikuru Town, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, was last seen on Monday, October 14, 2024.

The missing corps member was assigned to the Mixed Secondary School in Ikuru Town for his primary assignment and also worked part-time at the LDM Chinese Milling Company in the same area.

Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrests on Tuesday. She disclosed that the suspects had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.

“Yes, I am aware of it. Four persons have been arrested and transferred to the SCID for discreet investigation,” Iringe-Koko stated. She added that Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Mustapha, has met with NYSC officials to brief them on the investigation and ongoing efforts to locate Faruq.

Concerns have been raised by the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Edo Central Area Council, over Faruq’s disappearance. In a statement, the group revealed that he was last seen at his part-time workplace, LDM Chinese Milling Company, on the day of his disappearance. The company later returned his belongings, including his bag and phone, to his primary assignment location, which has added to the concerns surrounding his sudden vanishing.

“We are devastated and heartbroken to announce the sudden and mysterious disappearance of our beloved brother, Yahya Faruq. The alarming fact is that he signed in for his shift but did not sign out, leaving behind unanswered questions,” the MSSN’s statement read.

The group has called for public assistance in locating Faruq, urging anyone with relevant information to come forward.

NYSC officials have so far declined to comment on the incident, with Christian Onuoha, Public Relations Officer for the NYSC in Rivers State, remaining silent on the matter.

Investigation into Faruq’s disappearance is still ongoing.