Campus Chaos: Terrorists Storm Kogi University, Kidnap Scores of Students

Terrorists storm Kogi University, kidnapping many pupils

Terrorists stormed Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Okene, Kogi State on Thursday, May 9, and kidnapped an unspecified number of students.

An eyewitness said that the terrorists struck the university at around nine o'clock at night while students were getting ready for a test.

According to the source, the attackers used the bush as a means of entry before shooting into three lecture halls to frighten the pupils.

The source said: “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 claims that when the bandits attacked, the students were getting ready for their first-semester exam, which was scheduled to start on Monday, May 13.

A student, who asked to remain anonymous described how he and a few other classmates took cover in the bush and hid there for over an hour until everything subsided.

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

Vice Chancellor of CUSTEC Prof. Abdulraman Asipita acknowledged the event but would not disclose the precise number of students taken hostage.

“I don't speak to journalists regarding incidents like this, but rest assured, we are managing the situation,” he stated.

Mr. Bethrand Onuoha, the Commissioner of Police of Kogi, could not be reached. In a similar vein, calls to retired Cdre Jerry Omodara's line were ignored and unreturned, making it impossible to get in touch with him for a remark.

Unfortunately, kidnapping people for ransom has increased in frequency in a number of the nation's regions. Nine tourists were allegedly abducted by gunmen in February in Oshokoshoko, Kogi State, along the Kabba/Obajana/Lokoja Road.