Some Abducted CUSTECH Students Have Been Rescued – Kogi Govt. Says

The Kogi State Government has said some of the students of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Okene, who were kidnapped by gunmen on Thursday, May 9, 2024 have been rescued.

The State government which stated this on Sunday in a statement by Kingsley Fanwo, Commissioner for Information and Communications, did not however give the figure of the number of the students so far rescued, but attributed the rescue operation to the dominant show of firepower by security operatives and local vigilante men over the kidnappers.

Fanwo said that local vigilante men and security agents engaged the kidnappers in a fierce shootout during which 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 cross fire exchange.

According to Fanwo; “Many of the students kidnapped and even other people in captivity have been rescued and taken to medical facilities for proper attention. Many others were also rescued in the early hours of today.

“Security agents are currently combing the forests to rescue the remaining students in captivity.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo on Friday visited the university during which he assured of the safe return of the abducted students, adding that the government had activated the security architecture to track the kidnappers and ensure the abducted students are rescued and the abductors apprehended.

The statement also noted that “nine students” were reported missing as security operatives and local hunters were working to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted students.

Nine students were reported missing after the attack and abduction by the kidnappers as security operatives and local hunters were deployed to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted students.

During his visit to the institution, Governor Ododo said that there was an insider sabotage and collaboration in the abduction of the nine students.

Ododo said, “We installed CCTV cameras in all the classrooms and the entire perimeter of the university campus, yet on the day of the attack, our investigation so far revealed that all the cameras were switched off and this can only be attributed to sabotage by internal collaborators”.