…angry students demand the immediate release of colleagues
Four female students of the Joseph Sarwan Tarka University, Makurdi, JoSTM, former Federal University of Agriculture, were Tuesday night reportedly abducted on campus by unknown armed men.
It was gathered from a fellow student who spoke on condition of anonymity that the four victims identified as Emmanuella, Fola, Susan and Ella who reside on campus in Zamfara Hostel were ambushed by five armed men at about 8:30 pm while on their way to one of the lecture halls to read.
She said there was pandemonium in the institution when the news filtered into the campus and the students trooped outside their hostels in protest and to confirm the actual victims of the incident.
According to her, “We are still in shock over the untoward incident involving four female students who are our friends who were kidnapped on campus last night which is simply unacceptable.
“From the information we have, two of the victims have been confirmed to be 300 Level students and they reside here on campus in Zamfara Hostel in the North Core part of the University. They were on their way to one of the lecture halls to read around 8:30 pm when they walked into an ambush by five unknown gunmen.
“The armed men were said to have surrounded the students and ordered them to accompany them, but they ran into the bush in a bid to escape and at the same time shouted for help.
“But the armed men cocked their guns and ordered them out of the bush or they would all be killed. The students obeyed, came out and accompanied them. As we speak we do not know where they have taken them to.
“This is simply unacceptable and we are not happy. We cannot be living in fear on campus. The school management must do everything to immediately secure the release of the students and also ensure maximum security for all students and staff of this institution.
“As we speak, the atmosphere on campus is charged because students are angry and cannot accept a situation where they cannot be safe and secure in the university, particularly when we consider the fact that the best time to read is at night in the lecture halls. However, with this development, students can no longer feel safe to move to the lecture halls to read. It is unacceptable.”
At the time of this report, the institution had not et issued an official statement on the matter.
Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent, CSP, Catherine Anene who confirmed the development and said the investigation into the incident was ongoing.
