Reports reaching us say that armed men, on Wednesday night, kidnapped a yet to be conformed number students of Abia State University (ABSU).

State officials say that the students were travelling in a bus along the Okigwe-Uturu Road. The incident has also been confirmed by the Commissioner for Information, John Kalu in a statement, today Thursday.

Some students said that 18 students were taken by herdsmen:

Nwokeukwu, Mascot Nnamdi.@NwokeukwuMascot·18mJUST IN: Suspected #Fulani Herdsmen Have Kidnapped A Yet-To-Be Known Number Of Abia State University(#ABSU) Students Along Okigwe-Uturu Road.

Bishop Of No Diocese.@SopuruPita·6hHerdsmen reportedly kidnapped about 18 students from Absu yesterday, from a location that was just a stone throw from a military branch, 18 students. And no one is talking about it. Ahhh

Statement by the Commissioner for Information:

“Preliminary information available to us indicates that the students were moving in a minivan from Okigwe to Uturu between 7pm – 8pm when they ran into the armed gang who marched them into the nearby forest along with other yet-to-be-identified travellers.

“Two of the students managed to escape from the hoodlums while others are still being held at a yet-to-be-identifed location.

“We are working with the government of Imo State and relevant security agencies in both states to ensure the rescue of the abducted students and others.

“Members of the public and ABSU community are advised to remain calm as we will spare no resource in ensuring the safety of the victims.

“No criminal operating within our environment will be allowed to escape justice as we take the job of protecting lives and property of Abians and visitors to the state very seriously.”

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