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| Gunmen Invade Kogi University, Abduct Students |
The targeted students were preparing for their first-semester examination, scheduled to begin on Monday, May 13. Some students sought refuge in the bush for over an hour before venturing out when the situation calmed down.
On Thursday night, bandits raided the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTEC) in Osara, Okene, Kogi State, abducting several students. According to an eyewitness, the bandits struck around 9:00 p.m. while students were studying for their upcoming exams. The assailants entered the university through the forest and began shooting sporadically, trapping students inside lecture halls. Local security guards and conventional security personnel engaged the bandits, but some students were already abducted. Fortunately, their efforts minimized the damage, as the attackers didn't go beyond the first three halls.
The targeted students were preparing for their first-semester examination, scheduled to begin on Monday, May 13. Some students sought refuge in the bush for over an hour before venturing out when the situation calmed down.
Prof. Abdulraman Asipita, the Vice Chancellor of CUSTEC, confirmed the incident but did not disclose the exact number of abducted students. Efforts to reach the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bethrand Onuoha, were unsuccessful. Similarly, retired Cdre Jerry Omodara, the State Security Adviser, could not be reached for comments as calls to his line went unanswered. The situation reflects the alarming trend of abductions for ransom in various parts of the country. In February, gunmen kidnapped nine travelers along the Kabba/Obajana/Lokoja Road in Kogi State. Stay informed and vigilant!
