Two students from Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara in Kogi State, have been killed by their abductors, despite ongoing negotiations with their parents.
Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha, confirmed the deaths, describing the incident as highly unfortunate. In a phone conversation with a Channels Television correspondent on Sunday, Onuoha stated that security forces are actively pursuing the kidnappers to bring them to justice.
The kidnapping occurred on Thursday, May 9, 2024, when the abductors stormed the university around 9 pm. They captured several students who were studying for their upcoming exams. While 21 students were later rescued, some remained in captivity, including the two deceased students.
Education For All (E4A), a non-governmental organization, condemned the killings. In a statement released by its Publicity Secretary, Nasir Ibrahim, the NGO decried the intention of the kidnappers to deter young people from pursuing education.
“It is sad that the criminals killed two of the students who were not among the 21 rescued through the operation coordinated by the Kogi State Government. This is a callous act and demands collective action against such attacks on educational institutions,” the statement read.
The deceased students were identified as James Michael Anajuwe, a 100-level Information Technology student, and Musa Hussein, a 100-level Software Engineering student. They were allegedly killed at the kidnappers’ hideout in Kwara State.
E4A expressed their grief and urged the Kogi State Government to collaborate with Kwara State to take decisive action against the perpetrators. They also called on the National Security Adviser and the Federal Ministry of Education to intensify efforts on the Safe School Initiative to prevent such tragedies.
“Our nation must rise to the occasion to address the rising insecurity across the country,” the statement concluded.
