Two poly students, varsity worker kidnapped in Kogi church
Two polytechnic students and a varsity worker have been abducted in Osara, in the Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday while the victims were attending a programme at the Living Faith Church, Osara
The kidnappers, who were said to be armed with AK-47 rifles, reportedly took the victims into the bush.
A community leader in Osara, who asked not to be identified, claimed that the students and lecturer were picked on the Abuja-Lokoja-Okene while returning to their school.
He described the highway as “very dangerous to ply for motorists,” especially those on night journeys.
The source said this year alone, 12 cases of robbery and kidnapping were recorded in the area, adding that communities around the highway were living in fear.
Some residents claimed that the victims were from the Confluence University of Science and Technology, a new institution established in the community in 2020.
However, the management of CUSTECH, while confirming the incident, said the students were not registered with the school.
A statement on Tuesday by the Public Relations Officer of CUSTECH, Balogun David, said, “Without mincing words, there was actually a kidnapping case on Sunday, August 29, at Osara, in the Adavi Local Government Area, Kogi State, around 7.30pm. A staff member of CUSTECH working with the ICT department, Joseph Arome Simeon, was kidnapped alongside two female students of the Kogi State Polytechnic, Itakpe campus.”
Balogun said from the details made available to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Salawu Sadiku, and the Information Unit of CUSTECH, the trio had gone to the Living Faith Church on the outskirts of Osara for a voice training session when they were kidnapped.
“Further reports made available by the security agents said the kidnappers shot sporadically into the thin air before they finally abducted their victims from the Living Faith Church, Osara,” he added.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Willy Aya, said he had yet to be briefed about the incident and promised to contact our correspondent later.
He had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.
