Story from Kenneth AFOR, Lagos
The Abia State government has confirmed the abduction of some students of Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu by suspected members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), on Thursday.
This is according to the Commissioner for Information in the state, John Kalu, who issued a statement on the abduction at about 7 pm to 8 pm.
The students were said to be in a minivan travelling to Uturu from Okigwe when gunmen laid siege on the axis and took the students into a nearby forest to an unknown location.
According to the Commissioner, two of the students managed to escape.
The statement read, “Abia State Government is currently monitoring an incident that happened in Okigwe, Imo State, yesterday which led to the suspected abduction of yet to be determined number of students of Abia State University, Uturu, who apparently ran into a yet to be identified gang of hoodlums operating along the Okigwe-Uturu Road.
“Preliminary information available to us indicates that the students were moving in a Mini Van from Okigwe to Uturu between 7 pm – 8 pm 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 identified 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,” he said.
Kidnapping activities have become a daily occurrence in the states like Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Katsina, Niger, Kaduna, and now Abia.
Despite assurance from the Nigerian government that its military and other security agencies are trying everything possible to put a stop to the rising upheaval in the country’s security, yesterday’s abduction in Abia state is a sign that the government has a lot to do in addressing the challenges.
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