JUST-IN: Abducted Nasarawa Varsity Students Regain Freedom

The abducted four students of the Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK) have regained their freedom after three days in captivity.

A source in the institution disclosed to LEADERSHIP that the students were released Thursday afternoon.

Recall that four students of the institution were abducted from their off-campus residence in Angwan Kare area of Keffi town on Monday night.

The affected students included Rahila Hanya (SLT), Josephine Gershon (Computer Science), Rosemary Samuel (Business Administration), and Goodness Samuel (Geography).

The unknown gunmen were said to have invaded the students’ off-campus residence at about 10:30pm and abducted the quartet.

The Nasarawa State Police Command, which confirmed the abduction of the students, had told journalists on Tuesday that a manhunt was launched in collaboration with the military to rescue the victims.

Also, LEADERSHIP earlier reported that the assailants had demanded the sum of N80 million as ransom for the release of the four students from captivity.

“The kidnappers have contacted appropriate persons and have demanded for the sum of N80 million for the release of the students.

“The N80 million is a cumulative amount for all the four students. What it means is that they want N20 million for each student,” a source had told our correspondent in confidence.

The source, which subsequently reached out to our correspondent for an update on the development, said the students had been released.

“We just got the information that the students are no longer with the kidnappers as they have been released this afternoon,” she said.

She, however, cannot ascertain whether the ransom earlier demanded by the kidnappers was paid before the students were released or not.

“I can’t tell whether any amount was paid, nobody is willing to volunteer the info on that. The most important thing, though, is that they have been released,” she stated.

A Student Union official of the institution, Senator Julius James K, also confirmed the release of the students to our correspondent on telephone.

“Yes, the students have been released and they are in good condition. We thank all those who assisted in ensuring the return of our colleagues from captivity,” the SUG official stated.

The students union official also could not immediately confirm if ransom was paid or not, saying: “I really don’t know if money exchanged hands before they were released.”