Makurdi, Nigeria – Four female students of Joseph Sarwan Tarka University, Makurdi (JoSTM), formerly known as the Federal University of Agriculture, were abducted by armed men on campus late Tuesday night, sparking widespread outrage and concerns over security in the institution.
The incident, which occurred around 8:30 p.m., saw the students—identified as Emmanuella, Fola, Susan, and Ella—ambushed near their residence at Zamfara Hostel in the North Core part of the university. The victims were reportedly on their way to a lecture hall to study when they were confronted by five gunmen.
According to a student who spoke on condition of anonymity, the attackers ordered the young women to follow them. In a desperate attempt to escape, the students ran into a nearby bush while shouting for help.
However, the assailants, armed with firearms, threatened to kill them if they did not comply. Fearing for their lives, the students surrendered and were taken away by the gunmen to an unknown location.
News of the abduction quickly spread across the university campus, triggering panic and protests among students, who expressed their frustration over the deteriorating security situation. Many gathered outside their hostels, demanding answers and urging authorities to act swiftly to rescue their abducted colleagues.
A student who witnessed the incident described the atmosphere as tense and filled with fear. “We are still in shock over what happened. These girls are our friends, and now they have been taken away by armed men. We cannot accept a situation where we are not safe in our own school,” the student said.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the university has condemned the abduction and called for immediate action from security agencies to rescue the victims.
The union also criticized the school’s security infrastructure, stating that the porous security system made it easy for criminals to operate within the institution.
“The abduction of our students is a clear indication that the security measures in place are inadequate. We urge the university management and the relevant authorities to strengthen security on campus to prevent a recurrence of such unfortunate incidents,” ASUU stated in a release.
The abduction has raised concerns about the safety of students, particularly those who study late at night. Many students have now expressed fears about moving freely within the campus after dark.
“The best time to read is at night, but with this development, no one feels safe going to the lecture halls. It is unacceptable,” another student lamented.
As of the time of this report, neither the university management nor security agencies have provided an update on efforts to locate and rescue the kidnapped students. Authorities are expected to launch an investigation and collaborate with security operatives to track down the perpetrators.
This latest incident adds to the growing list of security challenges facing educational institutions in Nigeria, where cases of student abductions by armed groups have become alarmingly frequent.
Students and faculty members are now calling for urgent intervention to safeguard lives and prevent further attacks on educational institutions in the country.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
