Barely 24 hours after the visit of Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, to the scene of the crime, the abducted students of Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, in Kogi State, have been rescued unhurt.
Confirming the development in a statement, yesterday, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said the rescue operation was carried out by a combined team of local hunters, vigilantes, and security agencies in the state.
Fanwo, who did not state the exact number of rescued students, said the abductors, who were overpowered by the the security team, fled, leaving their captives behind.
The commissioner said the security agents were combing the bush to rescue the remaining students, who apparently ran in different directions to avoid being caught up in the exchange of fire.
He said a local hunter and a personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) sustained injuries during the encounter, and that were already receiving treatment in a hospital. He added that some of the kidnappers escaped with gunshot wounds.
He further disclosed that the rescued students were being subjected to medical examination at a hospital.
Ododo had alleged internal sabotage during his visit to the university on Saturday.
He said: “We installed Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in all the classrooms and the entire perimeter of the campus, yet on the day of the attack, our investigation so far revealed that all the cameras were switched off; this can only be attributed to sabotage by internal collaborators.
“Our security agencies are on their heels and investigation is ongoing. All our students shall return safely and the perpetrators shall be brought to book.”
When contacted, spokesperson for the state’s police command, SP William Ovye Ayah, said 14 students have so far been rescued.
