Crime

Two Kidnapped Kogi University Students Found Dead – Police

Published by Tope Fakinlede on May 26th, 2024.

Two Kidnapped Kogi University Students Found Dead – Police

The police in Kogi State have confirmed the deaths of two students abducted from Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara.

In a press briefing in Lokoja on Sunday, State Police Commissioner Mr. Bethrand Onuoha expressed deep regret over the tragic incident, calling it a very unfortunate event. While Onuoha did not provide specific details about the killings, he assured that security forces are actively pursuing the kidnappers.

The abduction took place on the night of May 9, around 9:00 p.m., as students were preparing for their May 13 exams. The kidnappers, who stormed the campus and fired shots into the air, managed to seize several students. While 21 of the kidnapped students have since been rescued with the assistance of local hunters, some remain in captivity.

The NGO Education For All (E4A) has strongly condemned the killing of the two students, emphasizing that negotiations for their release were ongoing. Malam Nasir Ibrahim, the Publicity Secretary of E4A, described the act as extremely cruel and a deliberate attempt to discourage young people from pursuing education.

Ibrahim noted that despite coordinated efforts by the Kogi Government and other stakeholders, the kidnappers killed James Michael Anajuwe, a 100-level Information Technology student, and Musa Hussein, a 100-level Software Engineering student, at their hideout in Kwara State. He lamented that this outcome came despite hopeful negotiations by the students’ parents.

“We are devastated by the loss of these promising students,” said Ibrahim, urging the Kogi government to collaborate with Kwara State to take decisive action against the perpetrators. He extended condolences to the bereaved families and called on national authorities to reinforce the Safe School Initiative to prevent such tragedies.

“The deaths of these students should spur the National Security Adviser and the Federal Ministry of Education to enhance school safety across the country. We cannot tolerate the loss of children who are simply seeking an education. Our nation must act decisively to curb rising insecurity,” he concluded.