From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Governor Ododo
The Kogi State government has confirmed the abduction of students yet to be specified in the bandits raid on the Confluence State University of Science and Technology, (Custech), Osara.
A Statement issued on Friday by the Commissioner of Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo also assured the University Community of the state government’s commitment to safety of the abducted students.
“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 that the abducted students are rescued and the abductors apprehended”.
According to him, “Hundreds of local hunters who understand the terrain as well as the conventional security agents are currently combing the area to ensure safe rescue of the abducted students who were kidnapped in the classrooms. So far, government cannot come out with the exact number of students that have been reported missing but investigation is on the accurate figure soonest. The Commissioner noted.
“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”. He added.
Similarly, the Commissioner of Police, CP, in the state, Bethrand Onuoha while speaking with Journalists at the main University Campus, Osara, during his visit as a result of the incident of the abduction, gave an assurance that the Police will not relent in the ongoing search to arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
Meanwhile,some of the students who spoke with our Correspondent in the campus put the number of students missing as of this morning at more than 20 while those abducted are about 50
One of them who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that the kidnapper who dress in the school vigilante uniform
entered through the bush path leading to Obagbon village along Lokoja/Kabba road.
“Going by the number of gunshots heard,the kidnappers cannot be less than 30. I learnt that they came in a bus parked in the Osara town while they entered through the bush path into the classroom and carried out the attack”.
