Manhunt begins as armed men storm Nigerian versity, kidnapped 9 students

On a sad note, about 9 university students were kidnapped in a renewed attack by armed men on higher institutions in Nigeria’s Kogi State. Officials say rescue efforts have commenced after the attackers invaded classrooms where students were preparing for examinations…

Search and rescue operations have commenced after gunmen kidnapped nine university students in Kogi State, central Nigeria.

The gunmen, according to reports, attacked the Confluence University of Science and Technology late on Thursday night.

The attackers invaded classrooms where students were preparing for upcoming examinations.

They later gathered a group of students and took them away with no resistance from security agencies..

The Kogi state government confirmed that there were nine abductees, but there are concerns that the number could be higher.

Kingsley Femi Fanwo, state commissioner for information, said the government has mobilised security forces in a search and rescue operation.

“Hundreds of local hunters who understand the terrain as well as the conventional security agents are currently combing the area to ensure safe rescue of the abducted students who were kidnapped in the classrooms,” Kogi State Government said in a statement.

Nigeria has been witnessing repeated attacks on elementary and tertiary schools in recent times.

Kidnappings at schools in the West African country were first carried out by the Boko Haram group, which abducted around 200 pupils from a girls’ school in Chibok, Borno State, a decade ago.

The approach has since been used by criminal organizations with no ideological affiliations seeking ransoms running into thousands of dollars before their loved ones were released.