Kogi State Government is deeply shocked by the murder of two students from Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) in Osara.
It was gathered that gunmen attacked the university and kidnapped several students preparing for exams on May 9, 2024.
By May 14, Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo reported that 20 students were rescued by security forces and local hunters, but four remained captive.
Bethrand Onuoha, the Kogi State Police Commissioner, confirmed on Sunday that two of the kidnapped students, James Michael-Anajuwe and Musa Hussein, both first-year students in Information Technology and Software Engineering, were killed.
He described the murders as “very unfortunate” and said that security forces are pursuing the abductors.
Fanwo condemned the kidnappers’ actions and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to rescuing the remaining hostages.
The statement reads, “The Kogi State Government expresses deep shock and sorrow over the callous killing of two of the yet-to-be-released students of the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara. We are heartbroken.
“The State Government was all out to rescue all the students and spared nothing in doing so. Unfortunately, we were able to rescue 21 of them alive. The State Government also mobilized security operatives, including local hunters and conventional security forces, to rescue the remaining students. The kidnappers contacted the families, and while the dialogue for their release was ongoing, the students were killed.
“This is an attack on us as a state, and the killers of our students will not go unpunished. They killed the students at their hideout in Kwara State. We are currently working with security agencies to see how their remaining captives will be released.
“The Kogi State Governor, His Excellency Alh Ahmed Usman Ododo, has also opened dialogue with Governors of the neighbouring States on how to make the hideouts of the criminals uncomfortable for them. We thank the Governors of Kwara and Ekiti States for their cooperation and readiness to rid the evil forest of criminals.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. The State Government will support them in every way possible in this dark hour of grief. We also sympathize with the CUSTECH community and the communities of the affected students.
“As a government and a people, we will do everything possible to avert any possible future occurrence and strengthen strategies to ward off evil from our state. We mourn our departed champions. Terror is cowardice for only a coward will attack those seeking knowledge in schools. We mourn.”
Meanwhile, CUSTECH has declared a three-day mourning period from May 27 to May 29 to honor the slain students.
The university’s registrar, Ms. Olufunke Hudson, expressed the institution’s grief and urged everyone to find solace in God.
She assured that efforts to rescue the remaining students are ongoing and urged everyone to remain calm and maintain peace.
Hudson said: “It is with deep shock and pain that the management of CUSTECH is mourning our beloved slain students.
“Consequently, all activities in the university are to be held low-key from May 27 to May 29 in memory of our departed students.
According to the registrar, the university management shared in the grief of the families and colleagues of the deceased students, urging the parents, other family members, guardians, friends and well-wishers of the deceased students to take solace in God.
She also said that the state government was intensifying efforts to ensure safe rescue of the remaining students from their abductors.
“Gov. Usman Ododo is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the students are released safely.
“We, therefore, urge everyone to remain calm and maintain the peace the state is enjoying,” she added.
KanyiDaily had also reported how three students of the ISA Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic in Lafia, Nasarawa State, were shot dead by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.
