Suspected bandits stormed Gandu community adjacent to the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) and abducted multiple students.
The incident occurred in two stages, leaving residents and students in fear, Politics Nigeria has gathered.
According to eyewitnesses, the first attack took place on Wednesday evening at 7:30 PM. A large group of heavily armed men stormed the community, firing shots into the air to create panic, an eyewitness said. While security personnel were alerted and responded promptly, the bandits managed to escape into the nearby bush.
However, the respite was short-lived.
At 2:00 AM on Thursday, the same group reappeared, this time targeting a conference hotel opposite the Nasarawa Housing Estate. They forcefully entered the premises and abducted five students.
Unfazed by the initial response, the bandits then proceeded to Gandu, a student community opposite the university’s permanent site. Firing gunshots, they forced students out of their residences and abducted five more individuals, causing injuries to several others.
The reign of terror continued for nearly three hours before the bandits finally withdrew.
FULafia’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abubakar Ibrahim, has confirmed the incident. However, he expressed difficulty in specifying the exact number of abducted students.
He said, “It is too early to ascertain the exact number of students because those affected are not living within the school premises but off campus.
“Right now, we can confirm the abduction of between three and five students,” Mr. Ibrahim added. “While their exact number is still under investigation, the university is taking steps to ensure all students reside within the campus for heightened security.”
In response to the repeated attacks, students staged a peaceful protest demanding an immediate end to the persistent kidnapping.
It is learnt that over 15 students have been abducted this semester.
Speaking to reporters, a victim of a previous attack recounted his experience. “We were five, including a woman,” he disclosed. “The bandits beat us, threatened us, and forced us to walk and run through the night.”
“They demanded N500,000 from my family, and after receiving it, they released me. I don’t know what happened to the others who couldn’t afford the ransom.”
