Two Kogi university students abducted, confirmed dead

“Tragedy struck on Sunday as the Kogi State Police Command confirmed the killing of two abducted students from Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara. According to Police Commissioner, Mr. Bethrand Onuoha, the students’ abductors brutally murdered them, a devastating outcome. While details of the killing were not disclosed, Onuoha assured that security forces are actively pursuing the abductors to bring them to justice.

The students were kidnapped on May 9 around 9:00 p.m. while studying in their classes, just days before their scheduled examinations. Although 21 students were rescued with the help of local hunters, some remain in the hands of their captors.

A Non-Governmental Organization, Education For All (E4A), strongly condemned the killing, labeling it a callous act. Publicity Secretary, Malam Nasir Ibrahim, expressed sadness and frustration, stating that the kidnappers’ intention was to intimidate young people from pursuing education. He urged collective action against attackers of educational institutions.

Ibrahim revealed that the students killed were James Michael Anajuwe, a 100-level Information Technology student, and Musa Hussein, a 100-level Software Engineering student. They were allegedly murdered at the kidnappers’ hideout in Kwara State.

E4A called on the Kogi government to collaborate with its Kwara counterpart to take decisive action against the perpetrators, who are believed to be hiding in a forest close to Kogi and Ekiti States. The organization commiserated with the families of the victims and urged the National Security Adviser and the Federal Ministry of Education to revitalize efforts on the Safe School Initiative, emphasizing that the loss of innocent students seeking education is unacceptable and demands a robust response to address the growing insecurity nationwide.”