(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The news that gunmen had abducted an undisclosed number of students from Abia State University, Uturu has sparked social media reactions.
African Examiner reports that gunmen on Wednesday night had ambushed some of the students and abducted them.
The Abia State Commissioner for Information, John Kalu, confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday, saying that two of the students escaped from the clutches of the hoodlums and others were still being held hostage by the criminals.
The statement read, “Abia State Government is currently monitoring an incident that happened in Okigwe, Imo State, yesterday which led to the suspected abduction of yet to be determined number of students of the Abia State University, Uturu, who apparently ran into a yet to be identified gang of hoodlums operating along the Okigwe-Uturu Road.
“Preliminary information available to us indicates that the students were moving in a minivan from Okigwe to Uturu between 7pm – 8pm when they ran into the armed gang who marched them into the nearby forest along with other yet-to-be identified travellers.
“Two of the students managed to escape from the hoodlums while others are still being held at a yet-to-be-identified location.
“We are working with the government of Imo State and relevant security agencies in both states to ensure the rescue of the abducted students and others.
“Members of the public and ABSU community are advised to remain calm as we will spare no resource in ensuring the safety of the victims.
According to Punch, the students were ambushed while journeying on a bus along Okigwe-Uturu road. In a statement on Thursday, May 6, 2021,
John Kalu, the state commissioner for Information confirmed the development. Kalu said, two of the students have escaped from the clutches of their abductors, while others were still being held hostage by the criminals. The statement reads,
“Abia State Government is currently monitoring an incident that happened in Okigwe, Imo State, yesterday which led to the suspected abduction of yet to be determined number of students of the Abia State University, Uturu, who apparently ran into a yet to be identified gang of hoodlums operating along the Okigwe-Uturu Road.
Secuestran a un número indeterminado de alumnos de una universidad en Nigeria tras una emboscada 20minutos.es - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from 20minutos.es Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
•Akwa Ibom, Gombe begin biometric capturing to reduce wage bills
•Kaduna may revert to payment of N18,000, Nasarawa introduces TSA
Our Reporters
With the dwindling allocations from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), state governments nationwide have planned a raft of measures to earn more revenues and enthrone frugality in public spending, THISDAY has learnt.
Investigations showed that many of the states are in dire financial straits and could hardly pay salaries as and when due as well as meet other contractual obligations in the wake of the double whammy of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted socio-economic activities, and the low price of crude oil, the major source of foreign exchange for the federation, in the global market.