The Kogi State government has commended security agencies for the rescue of 14 students of the Confluence University of Science and Technology from kidnappers.
Gunmen had last Thursday night invaded the Osara campus of the institution and abducted a yet-to-be-ascertained number of students.
The students were said to be attending a tutorial class in preparation for their first semester examination when the terrorists swooped on them.
The Kogi State Police Command, in a statement on Sunday by its spokesman, William Aya, said 14 students were rescued after a gun duel with the kidnappers.
Also, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement announced the rescue of “some of the students abducted by gunmen at the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara.”
Fanwo said the students were “rescued safely by local hunters and other security agents, hours after the executive Governor of the state, His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, visited the institution to assure parents of his commitment to rescuing the students.”
“Local vigilante men and security agents engaged the kidnappers in a fierce shootout and the kidnappers succumbed to superior firepower and escaped with gunshot wounds, leaving the kidnapped students running in different directions to avoid being caught up in the fire exchange,” he said.
He explained that many of the kidnapped students and even other people earlier abducted by the kidnappers were rescued and taken to medical facilities for proper attention.
He said security agents were combing the forests to ensure all the kidnapped students were found and brought home safely.
The commissioner said in the fierce gun battle to rescue the students, a local hunter and a DSS operative sustained injuries and they were taken to the hospital for treatment.
“We commend our local hunters and all the conventional security agents for their bravery and gallantry. Of special commendation is the DSS for acting on credible intelligence to coordinate a fearless confrontation with the outlaws. The security agencies have, once again, demonstrated why Kogi State will remain an uncomfortable place for bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements.
“The success recorded so far is a clear testament to the readiness of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to ensure adequate and uncompromising security for the people of Kogi State.
We urge residents to report anyone with gun wounds found in their communities to law enforcement agents” he added.
