Armed kidnappers suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have abducted 7 students of the Abia State University Uturu (ABSU).
An update from colleagues of the captives states that the kidnappers have contacted their families and demanded N2m for each of them.
The students were kidnapped along the Okigwe/Uturu road when the bus they were travelling in with other passengers was ambushed by the gunmen around 8:00pm on Thursday, March 31
News of the incident was however, received over the weekend by the school and students.
2 of the victims said to be medical students have been identified as Mejeh Emmanuel and Divine Nwachukwu.
A representative of a group of ABSU students, Michael Desmond TheMike with Eruba Gibson and 27 others said that, “Absu Okigwe Road has turned into a kidnapping den. Some students were kidnapped along that road two days ago. One of them is Mejeh, a 200level medic.
“I just got off the phone with his Dad and the story is 100% true. The kidnappers, who are suspected Fulani Herdsmen (from their accent) demanded the sum of 7Million yesterday. Today they’ve reduced to 2Million.Mejeh’s Dad is on his way to Okigwe now. Our government have failed us.“
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the university, assured the public that concerted efforts were on to secure the release of the affected students. He also advised students against undertaking night travels.
Meanwhile, the Abia and Imo State Police Commands have joined forces secure the release of the students.
Spokesperson of the Command in Abia, Geoffrey Ogbonna, on Sunday, confirmed the kidnapping of the 7 students, saying that they have not been freed.
Ogbonna said that joint efforts of the two stated police commands were needed because the kidnap incident occurred at the axis of the road located in Imo State while the victims are students of an Abia State owned institution.
According to him, “Abia State and Imo State commands are on the matter. The students are from Abia and from what I heard, they are about seven in number.”
The Vice-chancellor of ABSU, Prof, Onyemachi Ogbulu, confirmed that the kidnappers have already made contact and requested for ransom before the students could be freed.
He said that the abductors contacted him on Friday and demanded for N10 million on each of the students but 24 hours later they reduced the ransom to N2 million.
The horrified ABSU VC expressed his frustration with the security agencies, saying that the institution is tired of hearing about frequent kidnappings of its students in spite of the heavy presence of security agents along the road leading to the campus.
“There are more than six security checkpoints between Okigwe and ABSU, yet, every now and then, this happens and nobody has been arrested.”
He noted that it is hard to understand why kidnapping of students should persist “in spite of the presence of all the security agents, the army, the police, the Mobile Police.”
The VC lamented that students had been warned against undertaking night journeys but they refused to heed the advise.
He said he has not rested since he was informed that his students had fallen into the hands of kidnappers, adding that he has been in touch with all the security agencies in the state and the state government.
“We are working. I am in contact with the Commander of 143 Battalion. We are attacking them is the response and yet, ransom will (eventually) be paid. We are not sincere in this country.”
Prof Ogbolu noted that the federal authorities and the security agencies have failed to protect Nigerians from kidnappers even after introducing the SIM card registration and tracking system in the country.
The frustrated don added that, “Ransom will be paid, someone will come there, pick up the ransom, go back and will not be caught. This happens all over the country, not just in the east.
“There is no day we don’t hear of one problem or the other. This is a country that cannot protect the lives and property of its citizens, which is the primary function of any government.”
The Vice Chancellor added that the ABSU management has communicated with the Commissioner of Police, Battalion Commander, the AIG, DSS and others for the relevant authorities to take action and free the students.
“This is is not our function. Constitutionally, security is in the Exclusive List. This thing is not even the function of the local government or state government, it is the function of the Commander-In-Chief of this country and Armed Forces.”
He said that in the event that the federal government cannot provide adequate security, it should allow Nigerians to carry guns and allow state governments to protect the lives and property of their citizens.
“Let the governors be the real chief security officers of their states in words and in deed. “Let there be state police and local government police. This country has failed, whether they like it or not,” he added.
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