The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), has commended security agencies for rescuing 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and another abducted person in Imo State.

Marwa praised the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and other agencies involved in the operation, describing the successful rescue as a victory for the country and evidence of what coordinated, intelligence-driven operations can achieve.

The prospective corps members and the other victim were abducted on October 1 while travelling along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State. They were subsequently rescued on October 7 at Amakohia-Ubi Village following sustained search-and-rescue operations by security agencies.

Reacting to the development, Marwa commended the security personnel for what he described as their courage, professionalism and unity of purpose. He said the safe return of the victims demonstrated the importance of cooperation among security agencies in tackling criminal activities.

The NDLEA chairman also noted that security agencies had carried out other successful rescue operations in recent months, saying such operations showed the importance of intelligence sharing and joint action in confronting kidnapping and other security threats.

Marwa further said the NDLEA would continue to cooperate with sister security agencies, particularly in addressing the links between illicit drugs and violent crime. He maintained that the agency would deepen intelligence-sharing and joint operations aimed at disrupting networks that facilitate criminal activities.

He urged Nigerians to support security agencies by providing timely and credible information that could assist ongoing operations. Marwa also wished the rescued victims a speedy recovery as they receive medical attention following their ordeal.