Gov Ododo says CCTV switched off during Osara students abduction
(2nd from left): Gov. Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State during inspection of the abduction site on Saturday
Published By: Isa Isawade
By Richard Elesho
All the Close Circuit CCTV Cameras in the Confluence University of Science and Technology, CUSTECH, Osara, Kogi State, where scores of students were abducted on Thursday night were switched off at the time of the attack, fuelling speculations of insider connection.
This was disclosed by the state governor Ahmed Usman Ododo during his assessment visit to the institution on Saturday. He vowed to secure the safe return of all the victims as quickly as possible.
Ododo assured that every necessary step, including non-kinetic measures, has been activated to ensure the safe return of the abducted students.
While assuring members of the university community of efforts by the government to improve the existing security architecture on the campus, he promised to do whatever it would take to return all the abducted students to the university and reunite them with their families and friends.
“It is our duty as a government to protect lives and property in all parts of the state. We are prepared to protect the students, and that is why we allow the students to stay on campus.
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“We installed CCTV cameras in all the classrooms and the entire perimeter of the university campus yet on the day of the attack, our investigation so far revealed that all the cameras were switched off and 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”, the governor assured.”
Speaking further on the ongoing rescue efforts, the governor disclosed that there will be regular reviews of the operation as more facts emerge from the investigation.
According to the Governor: “I am here to see things myself; to assess the situation and also to review the ongoing operation that will ensure the safe return of the students to the school. What is most important now is how to rescue our students unhurt.
“We have the right information at our disposal, but we can’t put all that out in the media. I want the parents and students to be calm as we are making concerted efforts to secure the return of the students.”
He commended the security agencies for their gallantry in minimizing the impact of the attack by preventing the attackers from gaining access to the university hostels, stressing that nothing would be spared to bring back the students and prevent a repeat of such an unfortunate attack on the university campus and elsewhere in the state.
