Crime
Two Kidnapped Kogi Varsity Students Killed, NGO Condemns Action
Two students kidnapped from the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara in Kogi State have been killed by their abductors despite ongoing negotiations with the parents of the students.
Confirming the death of the two students in the hands of the kidnappers, the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, Bethrand Onuoha, described the killing as very unfortunate.
The Police Commissioner stated this while speaking with Channels Television’s correspondent on the telephone on Sunday, saying that the security operatives were on the trail of the abductors to bring them to book.
The kidnappers on Thursday, May 9, 2024, invaded the university around 9 pm and abducted some students of the institution who were in the classroom preparing for their forthcoming examination.
About 21 students were later rescued while some remained in the custody of the kidnappers.
Meanwhile, a non-governmental organisation, Education For All (E4A), has condemned the killing of the two students.
The NGO in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Nasir Ibrahim, and made available to newsmen in Lokoja, stated that the kidnappers intended to scare young people away from going to school.
“It is sad that the criminals killed two of the students who were not among the 21 rescued through the operation coordinated by the Kogi State Government, though the circumstances of their kidnap and being traced to a forest in Kwara State by security agencies are yet to be ascertained. This is sad, callous and a call for collective action against attackers of educational institutions.
“We are aware that parents of the students were negotiating with the kidnappers which slowed down the offensive on the kidnappers by security agencies so as not to endanger the lives of the captives. We were optimistic that they would be released at the end of the negotiations.
“Information reaching us shows that the students allegedly killed were James Michael Anajuwe, a 100-level Information Technology student and Musa Hussein, a 100 level Software Engineering student of the University. They were allegedly killed at the kidnappers’ hideout in Kwara State.
“We are broken and shattered that despite the efforts of the parents, NGOs and the State Government, we still lost these promising students. We call on the Kogi State Government to work with its Kwara State counterpart to take decisive action against the perpetrators who are said to be hiding in a forest in Kwara, very close to Kogi and Ekiti States.
The NGO commiserated with the families of the lost children, urging the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Federal Ministry of Education to reinvigorate efforts on the Safe School Initiative.
“The painful loss of the two students should provoke the office of the National Security Adviser to work with the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure the safety of our schools across the country.
“It is unacceptable to lose children whose only offence was embracing education. Our nation must rise to the occasion to arrest the rising insecurity across the country”, the statement said.
Edo State Police Command says it has rescued 10 University of Benin, UNIBEN, students abducted by suspected kidnappers at Ofosu area along the Benin-Ore expressway.
It was gathered that the students were on their way to Babcock University for Annual GYC Africa Conference when they were kidnapped on April 16 at the community bordering Edo and Ondo States.
The Public Relations Officer of the Command, Moses Yamu disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen.
Yamu said the rescued students are eight males and two females.
He said during the rescue operation, one of the suspected kidnappers was killed, while other escaped with bullet wounds.
He also disclosed that one of the Police officers, an Inspector sustained gunshot injury and is currently responding to treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
The statement read: “The Command wishes to update the general public of the unfortunate kidnap of some students who were on their way to Babcock University for Annual GYC Africa Conference on 16/04/2025 at a location bordering Edo and Ondo States.
“On receipt of this information, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, immediately deployed operatives of the Ohosu Division, IRT, tactical teams alongside vigilantes and hunters into the bushes for possible rescue of the victims and arrest of suspects.
“During the operation, operatives engaged in a gun duel with these kidnappers. In the process, one of the kidnappers was neutralised, while others escaped with bullet wounds.
“The operatives were cautious to avoid collateral damages as the kidnappers used the victims as human shields. Unfortunately, an Inspector of Police sustained a gunshot injury and is currently responding to treatment.
“This rescue effort eventually paid off as the ten (10) kidnapped students comprising eight (8) male and (2) females were released due to intense pressure mounted on them.”
Israeli security forces on Wednesday morning killed Muhammad Zakarna, a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, during a counterterrorism operation near Jenin.
Zakarna was identified as one of the terrorists involved in the deadly shooting attack in the West Bank village of al-Funduq in January.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Zakarna, a resident of Qabatiya, was among three gunmen who opened fire on civilians in al-Funduq on January 6, killing Master Sgt. Elad Yaakov Winkelstein, an off-duty Israeli police officer, and civilians Rachel Cohen and Aliza Raiz.
The IDF said Zakarna was located in a cave near the village of Misilyah following intelligence provided by the Shin Bet security agency.
During the attempted arrest by Yamam, the Israel Police’s elite counterterrorism unit, and IDF troops, a gun battle broke out between the forces and the suspects.
The military said the forces used shoulder-launched missiles during the exchange.
Zakarna and another Islamic Jihad member, Marooh Hazima, also from Qabatiya, were killed.
Hazima had previously been released from Israeli prison in the November 2023 ceasefire-hostage deal with Hamas and had since resumed terrorist activity, the IDF said.
A number of weapons and military gear were recovered from the scene. Several accomplices were also detained and found to be in possession of handguns.
The IDF confirmed that the other two terrorists behind the al-Funduq attack, Qutaiba al-Shalabi and Mohammed Nazal, both affiliated with Hamas — were previously killed in an Israeli operation in Qabatiya on January 23.
Panic has gripped the Otobi-Akpa community in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State following a fresh attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen on Tuesday evening.
It was gathered that several residents are feared dead, while numerous houses were set ablaze during the violent attack.
A local resident revealed that the attackers stormed the village around 6 pm and began shooting indiscriminately at anyone in sight.
“They have been shooting and killing people since 6 pm. As we speak, our house and several others have been burnt down.
We are helpless,” a distraught villager said.
At the time of this report, the exact number of casualties remains unclear as residents continue to flee for safety.
Details later……
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