Some of the students abducted by bandits from the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara in the Okene area of Kogi State have regained freedom.
The Kogi State Government disclosed this via a statement issued by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, on Sunday, May 12, 2024.
Fanwo noted that some of the students kidnapped by bandits on Thursday night were rescued by a joint team of security operatives and hunters.
The commissioner, who failed to disclose the number of students rescued by the security operatives, said a hunter and Department of State Services (DSS) operative sustained injuries during a gun battle with the kidnappers.
He stated: “This is to inform the general public that some of the students abducted by gunmen at the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, have been rescued safely by local hunters and other security agents.
“Local vigilantes and security agents engaged the kidnappers in a fierce shootout and the kidnappers succumbed to superior firepower and escaped with gun wounds, leaving the kidnapped students who also ran in different directions to avoid being caught up in the fire exchange.
Governor: CCTV cameras switched off in Kogi students kidnap
“Many of the students kidnapped and even other people in captivity have been rescued and taken to medical facilities for proper attention, while many others were also rescued in the early hours of today.”
Fanwo added that security operatives are currently combing forests to rescue the remaining students in captivity.
The state government had earlier disclosed that nine students were abducted by the gunmen.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State Police Command said 14 students were rescued by security agents.
“So far, 14 students have been rescued. Our men are in the bush trying to find the rest,” the command’s spokesperson, William Aya, said on Sunday.
Speaking during a visit to the university campus on Saturday, Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo expressed concerns about possible insider collaboration in the abduction, citing the shutdown of CCTV cameras installed at the institution premises on the day of the attack.
Ododo said: “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.”
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