In a coordinated operation, joint security operatives in Kogi State have successfully rescued 14 students from the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, who were abducted by gunmen last week.
The abduction occurred on Thursday when armed assailants invaded the CUSTECH campus, firing sporadically before kidnapping an unspecified number of students.
On Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer of Kogi State, SP William Ovye, confirmed in a statement to GOVIMA that 14 students had been rescued from a bush. He added that a manhunt for the remaining missing students is underway.
The rescue operation involved tactical teams from the Police Mobile Force and Counter Terrorism Unit, members of the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army in Lokoja, officers from the Department of State Services, local hunters, and vigilantes. The team engaged the abductors in a gun battle, eventually overpowering them and forcing them to abandon some of the victims.
“The unwavering efforts of the security team led to the rescue of the 14 victims in the bush near Obajana,” Ovye stated. He also noted that security operatives are actively combing the area to rescue the remaining students and apprehend the perpetrators.
The Kogi State Government and the university community have expressed their satisfaction with the rescue operations, commending the joint security team for their dedication and effectiveness in addressing the situation.
