Gunmen Strike Again, Kidnap Nasarawa Varsity Students

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have struck once again, this time targeting students of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK).  At least four students have been abducted in an incident that unfolded outside the school campus in the Angwan Kare area of Keffi on Monday night. This alarming incident comes hot on the heels of another kidnapping that occurred just a day earlier.  On Sunday night, Professor Haruna Ayuba Kuje, the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of NSUK, was abducted. The four students who have been taken captive are identified as Rahila Hanya (SLT), Josephine Gershon (Computer Science), Rosemary Samuel (Business Administration), and Goodness Samuel from the Geography Department.  It has been revealed that all of them are 100-level students. Comrade Solomon Timmy, the head of the Student Union Government (SUG), confirmed this harrowing incident to the media on Tuesday, urging everyone to remain calm as efforts are underway to secure the safe release of the abducted students. Additionally, Comrade Riwonga Lucky Ali, the SUG Secretary-General, issued a statement assuring students that measures are being taken to ensure the victims’ safe return. In a glimmer of hope amid these distressing events, there is news of the release of Professor Kuje. Samuel Alu, Chairman of NSUK Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has confirmed that Prof. Kuje was freed on Tuesday and has been reunited with his family. The former DVC’s kidnapping, which occurred at his private residence in Keffi on Sunday night, had sent shockwaves through the academic community. Authorities and security forces continue to work diligently to ensure the safe return of the abducted students and to bring those responsible to justice.

Police foil bandit attack on police station, Juma’at prayer in Zamfara

The police command in Zamfara said its operatives repelled bandits who attacked the Divisional Police Station in Zurmi Local Government Area of the state. The command said it also arrested a 35-year-old suspected female informant. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Yazid Abubakar disclosed this at the weekend at a media briefing in Gusau. Abubakar said police operatives attached to the police station acted on credible intelligence that a group of armed bandits was planning to carry out the attack. “The police operatives mobilised, confronted the bandits, and engaged them in a gun battle which lasted for hours. “As a result of this, one of the bandits was neutralised while the others escaped to the bushes spilling blood on their paths because of the wounds they sustained. “Police investigation that followed the incident resulted in the arrest of a 35-year-old female suspected to be an informant from Rukudawa village. “The suspect confessed that she has been working with bandit kingpin Dankarami Gwaska as his informant and has given her the task of monitoring activities at the police stations for him. “Two handsets containing bandits’ telephone numbers were recovered from her,” Abubakar said. “On July 28 Police Tactical Operatives attached to 34 PMF, deployed to Magarya community in the same Zurmi local government area acted on an intelligence report that suspected armed men were on their way to attack Muslims during Juma’at prayers at Kwata village in Magarya district. “The police operatives confronted them and succeeded in foiling the attack and the bandits escaped to the bushes. “Two AK47 rifles, four rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and Bajaj motorcycle were recovered at the scene while the command is still pursuing the suspects with a view to arresting and prosecuting them. “On July 27 at about 1330hrs, Police Tactical Team attached to Area Command Gusau acted on intelligence that led to the arrest of two suspected bandits and kidnappers terrorizing the Saminaka area in Gusau Metropolis,” the command’s spokesman added.