An unspecified number of students of Abia State University, Uturu have been kidnapped while journeying on a bus along Okigwe-Uturu Road.
Gunmen, according to the commissioner for information John Kalu, waylaid the students on Wednesday night.
Two students escaped while others were taken into captivity alongside some travellers, Mr Kalu said in a statement on Thursday.
“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,” said the commissioner.
“Preliminary information available to us indicates that the students were moving in a mini van 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 travelers. 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.”
The incident is the latest of abductions targeted at students. It follows the release of students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Kaduna who were abducted and held captive by gunmen for 56 days.
Abia State Government called for calm, adding that no resource would be spared in ensuring the safety of the victims.
“No criminal operating within our environment will be allowed to escape justice as we take the job of protecting lives and property of Abians and visitors to the State very seriously,” Kalu said.
