In Kogi State, bandits carried out a brazen attack at the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTEC) located in Osara, Okene. Under the cloak of darkness on a Thursday night, these criminals descended upon the campus, targeting students in a shocking abduction.
Eyewitnesses revealed that the bandits struck around 9 p.m., catching the students off guard as they diligently prepared for their impending exams. The assailants, sneaking in through the bush, infiltrated three lecture halls where students were engrossed in their studies.
With no warning, they unleashed terror by firing shots into the air, creating a scene of chaos and panic. Trapping the students inside the halls, the bandits forcibly seized them, throwing the entire school into disarray. Despite the valiant efforts of local security guards and gate personnel, the bandits managed to abduct several students before being confronted.
Fortunately, their intrusion was contained to the initial three halls, preventing further harm. This horrifying incident occurred as students were gearing up for their first-semester examinations, adding to the already tense atmosphere.
In the aftermath, students recounted harrowing experiences of seeking refuge in the nearby bush to evade capture. While the Vice Chancellor of CUSTEC, Prof. Abdulraman Asipita, confirmed the incident, he refrained from disclosing the exact number of abducted students, reassuring the public that the university was handling the situation.
However, attempts to reach key authorities such as the Commissioner of Police in Kogi, Mr. Bethrand Onuoha, and Retired Cdre Jerry Omodara, State Security Adviser, proved futile, leaving the community anxiously awaiting updates on the unfolding crisis.