Kogi varsity attack: 7 more victims rescued

Seven more abducted students of the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, have been rescued from the bush, the Kogi State Police Command has said.

SP Williams Aya, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), while disclosing this in a statement on Thursday, said the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, had deployed the Air Component of Police Security Apparatus, made up of helicopter crew trained for aerial surveillance, monitoring team as well as Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) to sustain the ongoing rescue operation and onslaught against criminals in the state.

“The diligence and indomitable spirit of all the combined team led to the rescue of additional seven (7) victims, bringing the total to 21.

“We are not resting on our oars; all hands are on deck to ensure all the students are safely rescued and perpetrators brought to deserved justice,” he said.

He added that the Kogi State Government, as well as the university community, were satisfied with the rescue operations so far.

The state Commissioner of Police, Benthrad Onuoha, commended the IGP for fully deploying security personnel and apparatuses.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports said the commander of the bandits that invaded the institution was killed in a gun battle in the bush on Wednesday.

In a viral video, the alleged commander in a military camouflage was seen tied to a stick and paraded for other security operatives for scrutiny and confirmation.

However, the state police command declined to confirm the killing of the bandits’ commander.

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Gunmen attack Kogi varsity, abduct students

The Informant247 had earlier reported that how some students of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Okene, in Kogi State, were reportedly abducted after suspected bandits invaded the university’s campus on Thursday, May 9, 2024.

According to an eyewitness, the bandits attacked the university’s campus around 9 pm while the students were reading for their upcoming exams.

The source said that the bandits came in through the bush, went into three lecture halls and began to shoot into the air to scare the students.

“They trapped the students inside the halls and started taking them; the school was thrown into total confusion as fear-stricken students in other halls scurried to safety, scampering in various directions.

“By the time local security guards and the conventional security men at the gate engaged the bandits, they had already succeeded in abducting some students.

“But the efforts minimised the damage as the attackers didn’t go beyond the first three halls,” the source said.

According to the source, the students were preparing for their first-semester examination, expected to commence on Monday, May 13, when the bandits struck.

A student who craved anonymity said he and some colleagues ran to the bush and hid there for “more than an hour”.

“We only ventured out when everywhere became quiet,” he said.

Contacted CUSTEC Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdulraman Asipita, confirmed the incident but refused to give details of the number of students abducted.

“I don’t talk to journalists on incidents like this, but I want you to know that we are on top of the situation,” he said.

Kogi varsity attack: Ododo assures of victims’ rescue

However, Ahmed Ododo, the Kogi State, on Friday, May 11, assured that the state government would secure the rescue of the abducted students of Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTEC), Osara, Okenese.

Ododo, while allaying fears on the condition of the victims from their parents and the entire residents of Kogi State, said hundreds of security agents and hunters who were familiar with the landscape of the area have been deployed to bring the victims back safely.

Ododo made this known in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo.

Reacting to the incident, the governor said the report was “received as a very disturbing news”.

The statement read, “Immediately the report was received, the Kogi State Governor, His Excellency Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo activated the security architecture to track the kidnappers and ensure the abducted students are rescued and the abductors apprehended.

“Hundreds of local hunters who understand the terrain as well as the conventional security agents are currently combing the area to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted students who were kidnapped in the classrooms. So far, nine students have been reported missing.

“We wish to assure students, parents and the entire people of Kogi State that the Government is on top of the situation and all the abducted students will be rescued alive. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has also directed that security agents be positioned around all tertiary institutions in the State

“We wish to commend the local hunters and other security agents who rose stoutly to engage the kidnappers. Their gallantry and dedication ensured that the kidnappers did not have a field day which would have been more calamitous.”

“The State Government will spare nothing in ensuring that all the students abducted are safely rescued and reunited with their families. We won’t submit to terror. We shall prevail.”

Kogi varsity attack: CCTV cameras were switched off before gunmen struck – Ododo

Meanwhile, the governor on Saturday, May 12, when he visited the university campus, expressed dismay that all the CCTV cameras were switched off before the abduction of students.

Ododo, who was taken around the surroundings by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Abdulraman Asipita, said: “It is our duty as a government to protect lives and property in all parts of the state.

“We are prepared to protect the students, and that is why we allowed the students to stay on the campus.

“It’s unfortunate that in spite of installed CCTV cameras in all the classrooms and the entire perimeter of the university campus, the abductors still struck.

“Our investigation so far revealed that all the cameras were switched off, and this can only be attributed to sabotage by internal collaborators.”

According to him, security agencies are on their heels, adding that an investigation was ongoing to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book adding that there would be regular review of the operation as more facts emerge from the investigation.

“I am here to see things myself, to assess the situation, and also to review the ongoing operation that will ensure the safe return of the students to the school. What is most important now is how to rescue our students unhurt.

“We have the right information at our disposal, but we can’t put all that out in the media. I want the parents and students to be calm as we are making concerted effort to secure the return of the students,” he said.

Ododo commended the security agencies for their gallantry in minimizing the impact of the attack by preventing the attackers from gaining access to the university hostels.

“Nothing will be spared to bring back the students and to prevent a repeat of such unfortunate attack on the university campus and elsewhere in the state,” Ododo assured.