Gunmen Abduct Four Lafia University Students

• Police, security agencies on manhunt – Vice Chancellor Rahman assures

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – The Nigeria Police and other security agencies are currently on the trail of some unknown gunmen who kidnapped four students of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) on Thursday night.

Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman, who gave the assurance, said serious efforts are being made by all relevant security agencies to ensure quick rescue of the abducted students.

Management of the University had confirmed the students’ kidnap in a press statement made available to newsmen in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital by its Public Relations Officer, Mr Abubakar Ibrahim.

According to the statement; “The authority of the University regrets to announce that four students of the University were kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Thursday, January 13, 2022, at around 11:30 p.m. The unfortunate kidnap incident took place at Mararraba community, located close to the University.

“Consequently, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman, on behalf of the management of the institution, expressed his profound outrage at the unfortunate development and condemned it in strong terms and demand for the immediate release of those kidnapped”.

The statement further quoted the Vice-Chancellor as lamenting that the kidnapping of students constitutes one of the most serious threats to education in Nasarawa State, in particular, and Nigeria in general.

In expresing deep concerns at the unfortunate development, Prof Rahman encouraged families of the abducted students to keep hope alive, assuring them that serious efforts are ongoing to ensure the kidnapped students are freed soonest.

This is as he said additional measures have been put in place to guarantee adequate safety of lives and property within and outside the campuses of the University.

The Vice-Chancellor urged the students to remain calm and go about their normal activities at the campuses while also paying more attention to security-related issues going forward.

Prof Rahman, who had earlier visited the scene of the incident and notified the Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa State Command, further disclosed the institution’s authorities are also in contact with other security agencies to rescue the victims.

He, therefore, appealed to the security agencies to work tirelessly for the safe and quick return of the abducted students.