The Nigerian Army says its troops rescued no fewer than nine students of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara in the Okene area of Kogi State.

The Star had reported that some of the students abducted by bandits last Thursday regained freedom on Sunday, May 12, 2024.

The Kogi State Government, in a statement issued by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, on Sunday, disclosed that some of the students 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.

The state government had earlier disclosed that nine students were abducted by the gunmen.

The Kogi State Police Command later said 14 students were rescued by security agents.

Abducted Kogi varsity students regain freedom

“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.

However, the army, in a statement on Sunday, said the abducted victims were rescued by its personnel in collaboration with other security agencies and local vigilantes in the vicinity of the Osara forests and nearby areas.

It said: “In the North Central region, troops deployed for the search and rescue of the abducted students of the Confluence University of Science and Technology in Osara, Kogi State, in collaboration with other security agencies and local vigilantes encountered the scouts deployed by the kidnappers in the vicinity of the Osara Forests and nearby areas, resulting to a fierce firefight.

“The superior firepower of the troops led to the kidnappers abandoning 9 of the kidnapped students, who were subsequently rescued.”

The army further disclosed that the troops, in a separate operation foiled an attempt to kidnap two residents of Danzara village in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

“The extremists, who had seized the victims in a red Golf car, were pursued by the troops. A confrontation ensued, forcing the kidnappers to flee and abandon the hostages without harm,” the army added.

The Star