An unspecified number of students of the Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU) have been abducted.
It was gathered that the kidnappers attacked the students during a trip, heading to Uturu area of Abia State, in the late hours of Wednesday.
Abia State Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu, on Thursday also confirmed the abduction in a statement.
Kalu disclosed that the students were ambushed by the hoodlums in a commercial bus, during a trip along the Okigwe-Uturu road.
The Commissioner also disclosed that two students in the commercial bus escaped from the hoodlums.
However, he could not ascertain the number of students kidnapped by the hoodlums.
He added that the state government under the administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is monitoring the incident and working alongside the security agencies to ensure the safe rescue of the victims.
The statement read in part, “Preliminary information available to us indicates that the students were moving in a mini van from Okigwe to Uturu between 7pm – 8pm, when they ran into the armed gang who marched them into the nearby forest along with other yet-to-be-identified travelers,” the statement read.
“Two of the students managed to escape from the hoodlums while others are still being held at a yet-to-be-identified location.
“We are working with the government of Imo State and relevant security agencies in both states to ensure the rescue of the abducted students and others.
“Members of the public and ABSU community are advised to remain calm as we will spare no resource in ensuring the safety of the victims.
“No criminal operating within our environment will be allowed to escape justice as we take the job of protecting lives and property of Abians and visitors to the State very seriously.”
Nigeria has been witnessing frequent abductions of students lately.
The New Diplomat recently reported that the abducted students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, gained freedom after 56 days in captivity.
Some armed bandits had invaded the Federal college of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, on March 11, at around 11:30 pm, abducting aout 39 students of the school.
Armed bandits also abducted about 23 students of the Greenfield University, Kaduna State. Five students have been murdered while one student was freed by the bandits.
The bandits had also given the Kaduna State Government a 24-hour ultimatum to pay N100 million ransom with additional 10 motorcycles to the secure the release of about 17 students in their custody.
The ultimatum has since expired and nothing has been heard from the abductors or the Kaduna State Government as at press time.
