Two Abducted Kogi Students Killed

The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed that two students from Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, who were abducted earlier this month, have been killed by their captors.

Commissioner of Police Bethrand Onuoha disclosed the grim news to journalists in Lokoja on Sunday, describing the incident as deeply unfortunate. He stated that security forces are actively pursuing the abductors to ensure they are brought to justice, though he did not provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the killings.

The students were kidnapped on the night of May 9, while preparing for their upcoming examinations on May 13. The kidnappers stormed the university, shooting indiscriminately before abducting several students. While security agencies, aided by local hunters, managed to rescue 21 students, others remained in captivity.

Nasir Ibrahim, Publicity Secretary of the NGO Education For All, condemned the killings, revealing that the victims were identified as James Michael Anajuwe and Musa Hussein, both 100-level students. He criticized the callousness of the act and expressed concern that such violence aims to deter young people from pursuing education.

Ibrahim urged the Kogi State government to collaborate with authorities in Kwara and Ekiti states to apprehend the perpetrators, believed to be hiding in a nearby forest. He also called for a renewed focus on the Safe School Initiative by the National Security Adviser and the Federal Ministry of Education to protect students nationwide.

“This tragic loss should serve as a wake-up call to bolster efforts in safeguarding our schools,” Ibrahim stated. “It is unacceptable to lose our children to such violence. The nation must respond decisively to this growing insecurity.”