In a significant development, the Kogi State Government, on Tuesday, announced the rescue of six additional students kidnapped during a recent attack on the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara.
This latest effort brings the total number of students freed so far to 20, leaving four still unaccounted for.
The rescue operation escalated into a fierce gunfight, resulting in the kidnappers, overwhelmed by the superior firepower of security forces, abandoning their captives and fleeing with severe injuries.
Initially, nine students were liberated, followed by five more the next morning, before the latest successful rescue of six more students.
“The families of the six students just rescued have confirmed that the students have arrived home,” said Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, providing reassurance to the public about the safety of the freed students.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo commended the effectiveness of the joint forces involved in the rescue operations.
Fanwo quoted the governor as saying, “I express deep appreciation to our brave security personnel. I urge them to continue the relentless pursuit until every last student is safely back home.”
In light of recent events, Commissioner Fanwo emphasised the state government’s commitment to school safety.
“The security architecture around our schools has been recalibrated for efficiency and includes an early warning alarm system to prevent such occurrences in the future,” he explained.
