Bandits attack Kogi varsity, kidnap students

Gunmen suspected to be bandits, on Thursday night, invaded the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTEC), Osara, Okene in Kogi State, and abducted some students.

An eyewitness disclosed that the bandits swooped on the university at about 9:00 p.m. while the students were reading for their forthcoming examinations.

The source said the bandits came in through the bush, went into three lecture halls, and began to shoot into the air to scare the students.

The source said: “They trapped the students inside the halls and started taking them; the school was thrown into total confusion as fear-stricken students in other halls scurried to safety, scampering in various directions.

“By the time local security guards and the conventional security men at the gate engaged the bandits, they had already succeeded in abducting some students.

“But the efforts minimised the damage as the attackers didn’t go beyond the first three halls.”

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According to the source, the students were preparing for their first semester examination expected to commence on Monday, May 13, when the bandits struck.

A student, who craved anonymity, revealed that he and some colleagues ran to the bush and hid there for “more than an hour”.

“We only ventured out when everywhere became quiet,” the student added.

The incident was confirmed by CUSTEC Vice-Chancellor Prof. Abdulraman Asipita but refused to give details of the number of students abducted.

“I don’t talk to journalists on incidents like this, but I want you to know that we are on top of the situation,” Asipita said.

The Kogi State Police Command has yet to speak on the incident as of press time.

The Star