The incident has raised concerns about the safety and security of students on campus, and the university authorities are under pressure to take immediate action to ensure the safe release of the abducted students
By Austin Angwe, Makurdi
Students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (formerly Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi) on Wednesday grounded academic activities in the school as they protested over the kidnapped of four female students.
The students marched around the campus, demanding immediate action from the school authorities to ensure the release of their abducted colleagues.
It had earlier been reported that group of gunmen abducted four female students identified as Emmanuella, Oraka, Susan, and Ella, and they were taken between 8:30 and 9:00pm while walking between their hostels and a reading point in the North Core area of the campus.
Eyewitnesses confirmed the incident, and a senior staff member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also verified the kidnapping.
In his reaction Chairman of Makurdi Local Government Area, Joseph Keffi, stated that he had visited the scene and was in a meeting to discuss the incident.
A video clip circulating on social media shows students chanting “No security, No security.”
CSP Catherine Anene, Police Public Relations Officer for Benue State Command, confirmed the incident but stated that only two students were kidnapped.
In response to the abduction, the university management shutdown operations and granted a one-week mid-semester break to all students while students have been instructed to vacate their hostels by 4:00 pm at the time of this report.
The university management, in a statement signed by the Registrar, Dr. John U. David, condemned the incident and assured that security agencies are working to secure the release of the abducted students.
The management in the statement urged staff, students, and the general public to remain calm.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety and security of students on campus, and the university authorities are under pressure to take immediate action to ensure the safe release of the abducted students.