Nasarawa: Gunmen kidnap 10 Fulafia students

Ten students from the Federal University of Lafia were kidnapped on Thursday night by bandits suspected to be herders.

An eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, informed the Nigerian Tribune that the gunmen invaded Gandu, a student community opposite the permanent site of the university, around 2 am on Thursday. They shot sporadically, forcing students out of their residences. The eyewitness testified that the operation lasted about two hours without interruption.

Confirming the incident, Mr Abubakar Ibrahim, the Public Relations Officer of the university, told the Nigerian Tribune in a telephone chat that, at the moment, the total number of students abducted is yet to be ascertained, but he provided an approximate number between two to four students.

“It is too early to ascertain the exact number of students because those affected live outside the school but off-campus. From available information, the number of students abducted is between three to five. However, the university is working hard to ensure all students live within the school campus,” the PRO said.

Meanwhile, students of the university have embarked on a peaceful protest, demanding an end to the incessant kidnapping of students in the university.

It’s worth noting that frequent abductions of students have become a regular incident in the institution, leaving students in constant fear. More than 15 students of the university have been kidnapped this semester, with a substantial ransom paid amid the harsh economy.

One of the victims of the kidnapping, who spoke to our reporter in Lafia, lamented that he was once kidnapped by the gunmen one evening and trekked throughout the night in the bush until daybreak.

He said, “We were five of us, including a lady. The gunmen beat and threatened us, keeping us walking and running at some point all through the night. They later collected N500,000 from my parents and released me. I don’t know what happened to the rest because they could not afford to pay.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Nasarawa State command, Ramhan Nansel, said, “This kidnapping, details are sketchy. The command has tried to get facts and the identity of the victims, but to no avail; thus, we are finding it difficult to authenticate,” he said.