Armed bandits on Thursday night 9th May raided the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Okene in Kogi State and whisked away some students.
According to an eyewitness account, the armed bandits stormed the university at about 9pm while the students were reading for their upcoming exams.
The source said that the bandits came in through the bush, went into three lecture halls and began to shoot into the air to scare the students.
The revealed further; “They trapped the students inside the halls and started taking them; the school was thrown into total confusion as fear-stricken students in other halls scurried to safety, scampering in various directions.
“By the time local security guards and the conventional security men at the gate engaged the bandits, they had already succeeded in abducting some students.
“But the efforts minimised the damage as the attackers didn’t go beyond the first three halls”.
The source added that the students were preparing for their first-semester examination expected to commence on Monday, May 13, when the bandits invaded the school.
A student, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that he and some colleagues ran to the bush and hid there for “more than an hour”.
“We only ventured out when everywhere became quiet,” he said.
Responding, CUSTEC Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdulraman Asipita, confirmed the incident could not give details of the number of students abducted.
He said; “I don’t talk to journalists on incidents like this, but I want you to know that we are on top of the situation”.
As of press time, efforts to reach the Commissioner of Police in Kogi, Mr Bethrand Onuoha, were not fruitful.
Similarly, State Security Adviser, retired Cdre Jerry Omodara, could equally not be reached for comments as calls to his line were not picked up nor returned.
Recall that in February, gunmen reportedly abducted nine passengers in Oshokoshoko, along the Kabba/Obajana/Lokoja Road in Kogi State.
