The Kogi State Government on Tuesday said six more students of the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, have been rescued from their abductors.
Kingsley Fanwo, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications confirmed the rescue of the students in a statements in Lokoja.
The students were kidnapped by gunmen from the university campus in the evening of Thursday, May 9, 2024.
A combined team of men of the Department of State Security (DSS) and traditional hunters had on Saturday, May 11 successfully rescued nine students from the kidnappers while five others were found the following morning, making 14 that have regained their freedom.
The rescue of the six students, brings to 20 the number of students so far rescued from the kidnappers.
Unspecified number of students are still being held by the gunmen.
However, Fanwo, said data at government disposal indicates that there are four students yet to be found.
Giving more details on the rescue of the six students, the Commissioner said the rescue efforts paid off after fierce gun battle between security agents and the kidnappers.
He said the superior gire power of security agents forced the kidnappers to succumb and abandon the kidnapped students.
Fanwo said : “Some of the kidnappers escaped with severe injuries.
“Nine students had been rescued first while five others were found the following morning.
“The families of the six students just rescued have confirmed that the students have arrived home.”
In his reaction, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo expressed deep appreciation to the Joint forces that carried out the operations.
Ododo urged them to continue the search until the last student is found.
“We wish to assure the public that the security architecture around our schools has been recalibrated for efficiency and early warning alarm to prevent future occurrence,” the governor said. (vitalnewsngr.com)
