Gunmen in Rivers and Imo states yesterday abducted no fewer than 19 persons, including five students of Rivers State University (RSU), intensifying concerns about Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation.
The abductions coincided with a call by the House of Representatives urging the federal government to apprehend and prosecute the killers of five police officers in Bauchi State last week.
In Rivers, the assailants, suspected to be members of a cult group, struck early yesterday morning at the RSU Emohua Satellite Campus. Five students were reportedly kidnapped from their off-campus residence in Emuoha, Emohua Local Government Area, at gunpoint.
A student who narrowly escaped described a terrifying ordeal. “They invaded our residence around 2 a.m. and shot dead the security dog before seizing the victims. Someone ran after me, and I had to escape through the gate,” the student said, pleading anonymity.
The victims had previously protested persistent harassment by cultists, urging the university to relocate them to the main Port Harcourt campus.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, however, reassured on Monday that security concerns were being addressed through engagements with community leaders, council authorities, and security agencies.
Confirming the abduction, Rivers State Police spokesperson SP Grace Iringe-Koko said: “They were abducted by cultists. A group of cultists stormed an isolated area of Rumuchi/Rumuohia, shot sporadically, and abducted five persons to an unknown destination.”
Police have launched a manhunt, with the state commissioner and tactical teams deployed to rescue the victims. Efforts to reach state government officials for comment were unsuccessful at press time.
In Imo State, gunmen suspected to be herders hijacked an Aba-bound bus carrying 14 passengers on Monday evening at Ngor Okpala. Eyewitnesses recounted that the assailants emerged from the bush, fired sporadically, and forced passengers into the vehicle while causing panic along the Owerri–Aba Express Road.
Henry Okoye, Imo Police Public Relations Officer, noted that the incident had not yet been formally reported. Nevertheless, the commissioner of police dispatched tactical units to conduct fact-finding patrols along the route.
The attack mirrors similar incidents in May 2025, when herders abducted 18 passengers in the same area, followed by another abduction involving more than 20 passengers.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives expressed deep concern over the November 29 ambush in Sabon Sara, Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, which claimed the lives of five police officers, including DSP Ahmad Muhammad, ASP Mustapha Muhammad, Inspector Amarhel Yunusa, Inspector Idris Ahmed, and Corporal Isah Muazu. Two other officers sustained injuries.
Mansur Soro, representing the constituency, said the attack occurred while officers were performing lawful duties. “Credible intelligence linking the attack to an armed group resisting the arrest of a dethroned hamlet head has not been acted upon,” he said.
The House adopted a motion urging the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the Police Trust Fund, and the North East Development Commission to provide immediate palliative and welfare support to the families of the slain officers.
It also called on the Inspector-General of Police to expedite payment of statutory entitlements, insurance benefits, and medical care for injured officers.
The motion highlighted the need for institutional support to sustain the morale and operational effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force. Committees on National Security and Police Affairs were mandated to ensure compliance and coordination with relevant security agencies.
The spate of abductions in Rivers and Imo states, coupled with unresolved attacks in Bauchi, underscores growing insecurity across multiple regions in Nigeria.
Security analysts warn that without prompt government intervention and proactive policing, such incidents could escalate further, putting students, commuters, and law enforcement at persistent risk.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
