8 CUSTECH Students Who Had Remained In Captivity Since May 9 Finally Regain Freedom…Gov AbdulRazaq Living Up To Expectations-Kogi Govt

Kogi state Government  announced on Sunday that  the remaining eight people among the  university students who were kidnapped in the state on Thursday, May 9, 2024, have finally regained their freedom.

 Recall that kidnappers had attacked the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, Kogi state , on Thursday, May 9, 2024 , and took away students at the institution.

Kogi  state Commissioner for Information, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement he issued  on Sunday, submitted that  Governor Usman Ododo has directed full support towards  the students and their parents’ recovery from emotional and psychological trauma while adding that steps are being taken to make the state a safe place for all.

‘The government of Kogi state expresses profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for directing the mobilization of resources to ensure the rescue of the kidnapped students. We also thank the National Security Adviser immensely for his commitment to the release of the students and the general security of the state.

The Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, the Director General of DSS, the Inspector General of Police and all the officers and men of the Armed Forces that put in their best as well as the Pilots, did a wonderful job to support us in reuniting the kidnapped students with their families.

The Kogi state Command of all the security agencies, Police, DSS, NSCDC and our local hunters are also highly appreciated for their efforts towards this feat’ he said.

The state government also commended the governor of Kwara state, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his role in the release of the students in question adding that he has lived up to expectations as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

‘Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo also expresses immense gratitude to his Kwara state counterpart, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his personal commitment, cooperation and support towards the success of the operation that led to the rescue of the remaining kidnapped students.

The Kwara state governor showed the reason he is effectively leading the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. His actions have also reinforced the Kogi/Kwara cooperation and unity of purpose’ he added.

 Hon Fanwo  also submitted that going forward. the Ododo  administration will continue the drive to enhance  the security architecture  of the state and pay attention to the Safe School Initiative.

‘As the state with the lowest out-of-school children in the North, we have put structures in place to keep our schools safe to ensure every child is not deprived of his or her right to education.

Kogi has domesticated the Child Rights Act and we will defend the right of our children to quality education. In Kogi State, education is free up to the Secondary School level. We also pay the registration fees for our students to write all internal and external examinations with a budgetary allocation that is way above the UNESCO benchmark for education.

We do all of these to educate our children and make them responsible contributors to the economy of Nigeria’ the statement noted while adding that ‘All of us must come together to defeat banditry, kidnapping and any form of criminality in our society’.

In separate statement that was made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by  spokesperson for  the Kwara  state police command, Ejire-Adeyemi Toun, a Deputy Superintendent of Police,   the state police command  disclosed that the Kogi state varsity students in question were rescued  near Oro-Ago , Ifelodun local government , Kwara state.

The statement added that whilst preparations  were being made for their onward transportation  to Ilorin, the state capital, some soldiers allegedly arrived at the police station,  overpowered the cops  there and forcefully took custody of the rescued students ‘without a proper hand over’.

‘It will be recalled that on May 9, 2024 at about 2030HRS armed gunmen invaded the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) ,Osara in Kogi state. They fired guns into the air and abducted students who were having tutorials in the classroom.

The swift response of Tactical teams from Kogi state Police command and other security agents led to the successful rescue of 21 students who have since been reunited with their families.

The heinous gunmen further made their way into Kwara state with the remaining students taken into captivity and roaming kwara forest with the abductees. 

The Commissioner of Police, Kwara state Police Command, CP Victor Olaiya, psc (+) acted promptly, mobilized tactical teams from the Command alongside tactical teams from the Force Headquarters, Abuja, Police Hi-Tech Intelligence assets, the Military and Local Vigilantes in a bid to rescue the victims. 

In addition, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM whose unwavering commitment to protecting the lives and property of citizens of the country especially school children remains a top priority, deployed the Air Wing Crew to conduct aerial surveillance with the aid of a helicopter. The Police Air Wing has been assiduously monitoring the forest around Ifelodun L.G.A where these criminals had  stayed for several days rendering the abductors incapacitated. 

The sustained efforts of the Police, the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Military, and Local Vigilantes, led to the successful rescue of the following  8 students, 5 females and 3 males:-

1. ANATE HANIFAT OYIZA ‘F’ 19YRS.

2.DAMISA RASIDAT OMETERE ‘F’ 17YRS.

3.AHMED TIJANI FATIMAH (F) AGE 21YRS

4.OBAKACHI MASHKURAH ONYIOYIZA ‘F’ 17YRS.

5.OLORUNTOBA BLESSING KEMISOLA ‘F’  23YRS. 

6.OMOJO GODWIN ‘M’ 19YRS.

7.ABDULRAFIU ABDULMAKIK ENESI ‘M’ 19YRS.

8. MUSA OSENI ‘M’ 19YRS.

The students were rescued and taken to the Divisional Police Headquarters, Oro-Ago in Kwara state in preparation for their onward movement to receive medical attention at the state capital Ilorin. However on arrival at the station, the students appeared weak and in dirty clothings.  Cops provided  them with presentable clothes and breakfast. While making preparations for their onward transportation  to Ilorin, soldiers on convoy patrol with three operational vehicles arrived at the Oro-Ago police station, overpowered the cops there  and forcefully took custody of the rescued students without a proper hand over. This act is disrespectful to the force; totally unacceptable. The behavior of the soldiers is likened to act(s) unbecoming of an officer. And necessary actions will be taken to report their conduct to the higher authority.

In the meanwhile, operation is ongoing on land and  the air to smoke out the remnants of the deadly criminals who may still be hibernating in Kwara forest.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Victor Olaiya psc (+) appreciates the IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun PhD NPM for the  swift and timely intervention and all other security agents who have worked tirelessly to see to the successful rescue of the students. He further urged members of the public to always be vigilant and report any suspicious movement or activities of persons in time to forestall any untoward incident.

The CP assures the good people of Kwara  state that he will not relent in getting rid of criminal elements from the state and has promised to emplace maximum security to protect the lives and property of the citizens’ the statement added-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you